Structural Performance of Rigid Pavement with Different Damage Levels

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Port-said university

2 Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Egypr

3 Civil Engineering department, Faculty of Engineering, Portsaid University, Portsaid, Egypt

Abstract

Transportation networks rely heavily on rigid concrete pavements, which deteriorate over time due to traffic loads and environmental factors. This deterioration underscores the need for effective maintenance strategies that reduce repair costs while maintaining pavement performance. This study evaluates how concrete slab thickness affects structural performance under different damage levels, aiming to identify the optimal thickness for maintenance interventions like asphalt overlays to improve pavement efficiency and reduce future repairs. The results indicate that thinner slabs exhibit the highest vertical stress and deformation, showing weaker load-bearing capacity. Increasing slab thickness reduces stress and deformation significantly, with reductions reaching up to 50%. Slabs with thicknesses between 250 mm and 300 mm offer the best balance, achieving stress reductions of around 65–75% and deformation reductions of approximately 50–60% compared to thinner slabs. Although slabs thicker than 300 mm continue to improve performance, the percentage gains decrease noticeably. At thicknesses of 350 mm and 400 mm, stress and deformation reductions improve by less than 10% compared to 300 mm slabs. This suggests that the most cost-effective and structurally efficient thickness lies between 250 mm and 300 mm, beyond which further increases yield diminishing returns. These findings highlight the importance of selecting an optimal slab thickness in pavement rehabilitation, especially when applying asphalt overlays.

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Port-Said Engineering Research Journal

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 June 2025

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