Análisis de respuestas mecánicas de los pavimentos rígidos colocados en las vías urbanas del cantón Cuenca

Abstract

This study analyses the stress and deformations occurring in the slabs of rigid pavements in order to understand their structural behavior. Additionally, it provides information on critical parameters to be considered in design and construction. Different situations were modeled in the finite element program KenSlabs, whose input data was obtained from the information collected in the bibliography, designs, memories, technical specifications and construction processes of the urban roads of Cuenca city. It was determined that more than 70% of the analyzed streets have a CBR of subgrade between 2 and 4%, with an average subgrade-subbase reaction modulus of 42.5 MPa/m, on which slabs of smaller dimensions are supported at 3.50 m and thicknesses that vary between 16.0 and 22 cm. The analysis of results for the possible locations of the vehicular loads on the slab, showed that the greatest stress and deformations are produced by a dual simple axis of 11.0 tons on the pavement joints. Because of the lack of information in the region about temperature variations in slabs, it was not possible to evaluate the performance of the pavements for combined loads and thermal gradient. With the stress and deformations obtained in the modeling and applying the criteria developed by the PCA for distress due to fatigue and erosion, a slab thickness of 19.5 was determined for local roads, 20.5 cm for collector roads, and 22.0 cm for arterial roads. Comparing these with the collected designs, it is identified that on local roads the thickness should be increased; however, the constructed roads do not present major distress, which indicates that some parameters such as traffic are overestimated, and others like the modules of the materials and resistances of concrete are greater than those considered in the designs, allowing to be on the side of safety.