Bearing capacity evaluation of rubblized concrete pavements

Abstract

The paper presents the findings of a research work performed on a real scale concrete pavement project where Rubblizing technology was used for its structural rehabilitation. Rubblizing may be defined as a fracture technique in which a concrete pavement slab is transformed in a granular base with a very high Modulus. This technique, fractures the concrete slab in angular pieces by using a concentrated dynamic load of low amplitude and high frequency. The research work was based on field study on the rehabilitation of 5 km motorway. The structural evaluations where made, before, during and after one year construction. Measurements and site evaluation where made by using DCP, Light Weight Deflectometer and FWD (on top of asphalt layer) and excavating inside pits. The structural capacity of the Rubblized layer was evaluated through theoretical analysis. Because of the anisotropic properties of the Rubblized layer the results are presented using AASHTO structural layer coefficient. The structural layer coefficients recommended are between the range of 0.25 and 0.30 for concrete slabs with thickness grater than 220 mm.