PCA Design Method

PCA Design Method

• Two failure modes considered:
– Fatigue failure due to slab flexure
– Erosion failure due to foundation compression

• Edge loads produce the worst stresses

– Fatigue based on tensile stress due to edge loads

• Corner loads produce the worst deflections

– Erosion based on deflections due to corner loads

2
Miner’s Hypothesis

i
i
i

i
i
i

3
 Design Parameters

1. Concrete modulus of rupture (MR)

2. Modulus of subgrade reaction (k)

3. Design traffic volume

4. Axle load spectrum

4
Modulus of Subgrade Reaction
Design k Values for Untreated Subbases

Design k Values for Cement-Treated Subbases

5
 Design Traffic Volume

Average Direction Traffic

Daily Traffic Distribution Growth
(two-way) Factor Multiplier

V = 365 (ADT) (T) (D)(L)(G)(Y)

Percent Lane Design

Trucks Distribution Life
Factor

6
Growth Factor (AASHTO)
Design
Life

 (1 + r )n − 1
G= 
 r 
Annual
Growth
Rate

7
Growth Factor (PCA)

Design
Life

G = (1 + r )
Y
2

Annual
Growth
Rate

8
Lane Distribution Factor

(ADT) (D) (G)

9
 Axle Load Spectrum
600

500

400
Frequency

300

200

100

0
3000-6999 7000-7999 8000- 12000- 16000- 18000- 20000- 22000- 24000- 26000-
11999 15999 17999 19999 21999 23999 25999 29999
Single Axle Load (lbs)

10
 Axle Load Spectrum
250

200

150
Frequency

100

50

0
6000- 12000- 18000- 24000- 30000- 32000- 34000- 36000- 38000- 40000-
11999 17999 23999 29999 31999 33999 35999 37999 39999 41999
Tandem Axle Load(lbs)

14
 Design Procedure
1. Choose a trial slab thickness (h).
2. For each axle load class:
a) Determine Ni for fatigue failure.
b) Divide ni by Ni to determine fatigue damage factor di.
c) Determine Ni for erosion failure.
d) Divide ni by Ni to determine erosion damage factor di.
3. Sum fatigue and erosion damage factors over all of the
axle load classes.
4. If both sums are less than 1 (life) your design is good;
otherwise you need to increase your slab thickness.
13
 Equivalent Stress
Equivalent Stress – No Concrete Shoulder Equivalent Stress – Concrete Shoulder
(Single Axle / Tandem Axle) (Single Axle / Tandem Axle)

14
 Load Safety Factor

Traffic Volume LSF

High
1.2
(interstates, multilane highways)
Moderate
1.1
(highways and arterials)
Low
1.0
(collectors, residential streets)

Multiplication factor for axle loads

15
16
 Erosion Factor
Erosion Factor – Doweled Joints, Concrete Shoulder Erosion Factor – No Dowels, Concrete Shoulder
(Single Axle / Tandem Axle) (Single Axle / Tandem Axle)

17
Allowable Repetitions
Concrete Shoulder 20
 Erosion Factor
Erosion Factor – Doweled Joints, No Concrete Shoulder Erosion Factor – No Dowels, No Concrete Shoulder
(Single Axle / Tandem Axle) (Single Axle / Tandem Axle)

21
Allowable Repetitions
No Concrete Shoulder 22
Example Problem

21
 Example
Four-lane rural interstate

Two-way ADT = 12,900

Trucks (T) = 19%
Growth rate (r) = 4%
D = 0.5 (assumed)
Design life (Y) = 20 years

22
Traffic Growth Multiplier

G = (1 + r ) = (1.04 )
Y 10
2 = 1.5

23
Design Traffic Volume

12,900 0.5 1.5

V = (ADT) (D) (G) =9675

24
Lane Distribution Factor

25
 Design Traffic Volume

12,900 0.19 0.5 0.81 1.5 20

V = 365 (ADT) (T) (D)(L)(G)(Y)

V = 10,880,000 trucks

26
 Example
Clay subgrade
k = 100 psi/in
4" untreated subbase
Concrete MR = 650 psi
Doweled JPCP
Asphalt Shoulders

27
Modulus of Subgrade Reaction
Design k Values for Untreated Subbases

Design k Values for Cement-Treated Subbases

28
 Axle Load Spectrum
2,000,000
1,837,000
1,800,000

1,600,000

1,400,000

1,200,000

1,000,000

800,000
586,900
600,000
422,500
400,000 307,200
235,800
200,000 106,900
64,410 30,140 14,690 6,310
0
12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Single Axle Load (kips)

29
 Axle Load Spectrum
1,800,000
1,656,000
1,600,000

1,400,000 1,356,000
1,227,000
1,200,000

984,900
1,000,000 930,700
885,800

800,000

600,000

372,900
400,000

200,000 124,900
42,870 21,320
0
16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52

Tandem Axle Load (kips)

30
31
32
Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20

33
 Load Safety Factor

Traffic Volume LSF

High
1.2
(interstates, multilane highways)
Moderate
1.1
(highways and arterials)
Low
1.0
(collectors, residential streets)

Multiplication factor for axle loads

34
Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

35
 Equivalent Stress
Equivalent Stress – No Concrete Shoulder Equivalent Stress – Concrete Shoulder
(Single Axle / Tandem Axle) (Single Axle / Tandem Axle)

36
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

206
0.317 206/MR

30 36.0 6310

37
38
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

206
0.317

30 36.0 6310 27,000 23.4

39
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

206
0.317

30 36.0 6310 27,000 23.4

28 33.6 14,690 77,000 19.1
26 31.2 30,140 230,000 13.1
24 28.8 64,410 1,200,000 5.4
22 26.4 106,900

40
41
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

206
0.317

30 36.0 6310 27,000 23.4

28 33.6 14,690 77,000 19.1
26 31.2 30,140 230,000 13.1
24 28.8 64,410 1,200,000 5.4
22 26.4 106,900 unlimited 0.0
 = 61.0

42
Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

43
 Equivalent Stress
Equivalent Stress – No Concrete Shoulder Equivalent Stress – Concrete Shoulder
(Single Axle / Tandem Axle) (Single Axle / Tandem Axle)

44
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

192
0.295 192/MR

52 62.4 21,320

45
46
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

192
0.295

52 62.4 21,320 1,100,000 1.9

47
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

192
0.295

52 62.4 21,320 1,100,000 1.9

48 57.6 42,870

48
49
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

192
0.295

52 62.4 21,320 1,100,000 1.9

48 57.6 42,870 unlimited 0.0
 = 62.9

50
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

206
0.317

30 36.0 6310 27,000 23.4

28 33.6 14,690 77,000 19.1
26 31.2 30,140 230,000 13.1
24 28.8 64,410 1,200,000 5.4
22 26.4 106,900 unlimited 0.0

51
 Erosion Factor
Erosion Factor – Doweled Joints, No Concrete Shoulder Erosion Factor – No Dowels, No Concrete Shoulder
(Single Axle / Tandem Axle) (Single Axle / Tandem Axle)

52
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

206 2.59
0.317

30 36.0 6310 27,000 23.4

28 33.6 14,690 77,000 19.1
26 31.2 30,140 230,000 13.1
24 28.8 64,410 1,200,000 5.4
22 26.4 106,900 unlimited 0.0

53
Allowable Repetitions
No Concrete Shoulder 56
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

206 2.59
0.317

30 36.0 6310 27,000 23.4 1,500,000 0.4

28 33.6 14,690 77,000 19.1
26 31.2 30,140 230,000 13.1
24 28.8 64,410 1,200,000 5.4
22 26.4 106,900 unlimited 0.0

55
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

206 2.59
0.317

30 36.0 6310 27,000 23.4 1,500,000 0.4

28 33.6 14,690 77,000 19.1 2,200,000 0.7
26 31.2 30,140 230,000 13.1 3,500,000 0.9
24 28.8 64,410 1,200,000 5.4 5,900,000 1.1
22 26.4 106,900 unlimited 0.0 11,000,000 1.0
20 28.0 235,800 23,000,000 1.0
18 21.6 307,200 64,000,000 0.5
16 19.2 422,500 unlimited 0
 = 5.6
56
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

192
0.295

52 62.4 21,320 1,100,000 1.9

48 57.6 42,870 unlimited 0.0

57
 Erosion Factor
Erosion Factor – Doweled Joints, No Concrete Shoulder Erosion Factor – No Dowels, No Concrete Shoulder
(Single Axle / Tandem Axle) (Single Axle / Tandem Axle)

58
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

192 2.79
0.295

52 62.4 21,320 1,100,000 1.9

48 57.6 42,870 unlimited 0.0

59
Allowable Repetitions
No Concrete Shoulder 62
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

192 2.79
0.295

52 62.4 21,320 1,100,000 1.9 920,000 2.3

48 57.6 42,870 unlimited 0.0

61
 Design 1 – Four-lane rural interstate, dowels, asphalt shoulder
9.5 X
130 X
650 20
1.2

192 2.79
0.295

52 62.4 21,320 1,100,000 1.9 920,000 2.3

48 57.6 42,870 unlimited 0.0 1,500,000 2.9
44 52.8 124,900 2,500,000 5.0
40 48.0 372,900 4,600,000 8.1
36 43.2 885,800 9,500,000 9.3
32 38.4 930,700 24,000,000 3.9
28 33.6 1,656,000 92,000,000 1.8
24 28.8 984,900 unlimited 0.0
 = 33.3
62