FATIGUE LIFE ANALYSIS OF RIGID PAVEMENT STRUCTURE WITH PERVIOUS CONCRETE BASE LAYER USING 2D FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Abstract

In Indonesia, most of the rigid pavement generally use to carry heavy traffic. The combination of
trapped infiltration water and repeated traffic loading will generate void between the base layer surface and surface
layer base (erosion). Erosion phenomenon could lead to the loss of foundation support, short-term service life
issue. Base layer with drainage type like pervious concrete could be useful to tackle those problems. KENSLABS
program which is based on the finite element method has been widely used to analyze the pavement response.
Some advanced parameters are varied in the simulation to analyze their impact against fatigue life through the
mechanistic approach. It was found that the thickness ratio between the surface layer and the base layer can
influence the rigid pavement fatigue life. The slab thickness should also be limited when pervious concrete is used
as a base layer with an unbonded condition. Pervious concrete with the bonded interface has a longer fatigue life
than lean concrete with the bonded interface. The difference among the advanced property values from base layer
material and the thickness ratio between the surface layer and the base layer plays an important role in fatigue life
value as well. Either in unbonded condition or in bonded condition, fixed base layer with a minimum thickness is
more recommended when pervious concrete is used as a base layer because it requires thinner total slab thickness.
In sum, pervious concrete could be recommended as an alternative base layer to replace lean concrete.