Numerical Investigation on Deformations and Stresses in Concrete Highway Pavements

In this paper, results of numerical simulations of the deformation behaviour of concrete highway pavements under hygral and thermal gradients are presented. It is shown that.high temperature gradients, which could be caused by a temperature shock may lead to thermal cracking at the surface of the concrete. Further shrinkage cracking may occur due to the drying of the concrete top layer, regardless of the possibility of water absorption at the bottom side of the slab. Besides the material properties itself, the dimensions and the bearing of the slabs as well as the zero stress temperature and the shrinkage coefficient influence the possible crack formation.