Cracking Characteristics of Model Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements

Abstract

An experimental program was conducted in the laboratory to predict the behavior of model continuously reinforced concrete (CRC) slabs in tension. A tensile loading arrangement was devised using a Universal Testing Machine for this purpose. Model concrete slabs were cast for two types of reinforcement arrangements: a regular grid pattern, and an inclined grid pattern. Tests were conducted for different rebar spacings and orientations. In the numerical study, a two-dimensional model of the CRC slabs was developed using FLAC, a commercially available software package based on the finite difference method. Experimental and numerical results were compared and were found to be in close agreement. Finally, the average crack spacings for different rebar spacings and orientations from both experimental and numerical studies were compared with the results obtained from the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute design method.

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