Comparative Analysis of Rigid Pavement using Westergaard Method and Computer Program

Abstract

Country's economic, social and cultural development is mainly dependent on performance of its highway structure. Selection of appropriate pavement type and related design method are vital for the improvement of pavement performance and its service life, and reduction in the initial and maintenance cost. The rigid pavement exposed to many distresses during its service life resulted due to variation of traffic loading, material properties and climatic conditions. The main objective of this project is to make comparison between manual and computer design for rigid pavement structure under different loading, material properties and temperature regimes. For manual design and computer design, “Westergaard Method" and “KENPAVE software" were used respectively. The stress analysis results revealed that edge stresses are higher as compared with interior and corner location, and stresses estimated at all locations with Westergaard method are significantly lower than stresses estimated with KENPAVE software. Results of sensitivity analysis showed that change in pavement thickness, material properties and wheel load has significant impact on developed stresses at different slab locations.