Experimental study on fatigue strength of continuously reinforced concrete pavements

A laboratory investigation was conducted to characterise and quantify fatigue life of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) in Korea highway systems. Eight scale-sized specimens were made, based upon results of finite-element analyses and stress–strain curve comparisons. Rubber plates were used to simulate the cement-treated sub-base and the sub-grade below the concrete pavements. Initially static tests were performed to obtain magnitudes of static failure loads and to predict crack patterns before fatigue tests. The CRCP fatigue lives measured in the study were compared with the results of previous investigations by other researchers. The comparisons indicate that the fatigue lives of most specimens are very close to the results from equation of Vesic and Saxena (NCHRP Report 97, HRB, National Research Council, Washington, DC, 1970). The results obtained in the study can be used for maintenance and retrofit of the CRCP constructed in major Korea highway systems.