No seam stress

摘要

In contemporary practice, continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP) are terminated and anchored at each bridge abutment. Approach slabs, with transverse joints at each end, then provide the CRCP-to-bridge abutment link (Figure la). The resulting transition is often not smooth, as the provision of transverse joints can lead to discontinuities in the carriageway profile, particularly if there is significant settlement of the approach embankment. The seamless pavement, which was adopted for the construction of the majority of motorway underbridges on the Westlink M7 (WM7) Motorway in Sydney in 2004, is an enhancement that eliminates transverse expansion joints at bridge structures and provides a reinforced concrete connection between the CRCP and the bridge deck (Figure 1b). This results in improved ride quality for highway users, reduced maintenance costs and increased service life for the bridges. Additionally, it eliminates the need for pavement anchors behind each abutment, thereby reducing the pavement cost and minimizing construction activities in an area that is generally on the critical path.