Module II : Analysis and design of concrete pavements
Lecture 3 : Various design approaches
 

Introduction

The concrete pavement can be of three types, jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP), jointed reinforced concrete pavement (JRCP) and continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP). There could be another variety - pre-stressed concrete pavement, which has specialized application, such as airport runway pavement. The relative advantages and disadvantages are mentioned in Table-5 (Swanlund and Vanikar 2002).

 

Table -5   Advantages and disadvantages of various types of concrete pavements (Swanlund and Vanikar 2002)

Pavement type

Advantages

Disadvantages

Jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP)

Reliable design and can be used at all locations.

Joint maintenance is costly and may impair future performance after rehabilitation.

Jointed reinforced concrete pavement  (JRCP)

Fewer joints than JPCP. Damage due to pavement cracking is less severe than JPCP, because the reinforcement holds the cracked portion in position.

- do-

Continuously reinforced concrete pavement   (CRCP)

No joints, hence smooth ride and long service life.

High initial cost, complex to construct. Maintenance is costly and difficult.

 

JPCP is the most popularly used pavement. The present lecture discusses various design approaches for design of JPCP pavements. The design approaches for JRCP and CRCP have been discussed elsewhere .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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