Improved Surfacing Materials for Tracked Vehicular Traffic

摘要

This study was conducted to determine whether thinner plain or reinforced portland cement concrete (PCC) sections could be used for pavement subjected to tracked vehicular traffic for new construction or whether other types of surfacings could be used for tank traffic. Test pavement items of 2-in. plain PCC, 2-in. reinforced PCC, 2-in. fibrous PCC, 4-in. plain PCC, 4-in. reinforced PCC, and 2-in. PCC placed in aluminum grids were constructed. Pea gravel (3/8 in.) was used in the PCC mix to facilitate the placement in the 2- by 4-in. welded wire fabric that was used for reinforcing. The pavement was placed on a foundation with an average modulus of subgrade reaction value of 856 lb/sq in./in. Traffic was applied with an M-48 tank that was loaded to 114,000 lb, which was the approximate combat weight of an M-1 Abrams tank. Results indicate that sections of reinforced PCC slabs possibly thinner than the minimum used presently can support M-48 tank traffic on high-strength base courses and that fibrous concrete may also be satisfactory.