ABSTRACT

Using the methodologies and techniques introduced in the preceding three chapters, it is now possible to carry out a concrete pavement design from first principles. The key steps are:

1 determine a representative design load case (e.g. a standard axle); 2 work out the number of equivalent design loads during the design life

of the pavement; 3 design the pavement foundation to have a certain strength (either k

or Es); 4 select a concrete strength; 5 select an appropriate reliability/calibration factor; 6 combine (2), (4) and (5) and determine an allowable stress; 7 use (1), (3) and (6) in a Westergaard or Meyerhof analysis to design an

appropriate slab thickness; 8 ensure that joint spacing/type is compatible with the design assumptions.