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Browsing by Author "Sharma, Pranav"

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    Finite element modeling of thin fiber reinforced concrete pavements
    (2023-07) Sharma, Pranav
    Thin concrete pavement is an economical option for low and moderate traffic roads, where thethickness of concrete slab varies from 4-inch to 6-inch. In conventional concrete pavement, dowel bars are used to increase load transfer efficiency (LTE) and mitigate transverse joint faulting. However, dowel bars cannot be accommodated in the thin concrete pavement due to insufficient clear cover. For such pavements, structural fibers are a good option for increasing joint performance or load transfer efficiency, as well as reducing faulting. However, only limited studies are available in understanding the contribution of structural fibers to the benefits of joint performance and the behavior of fibers during the transfer of loads across the joint. In this study, finite element analysis of the thin fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) pavement was performed. A six-slab model was developed with a granular aggregate layer, replicating the actual field conditions. The effect of concrete and base layer structure, material properties, traffic and environmental loads, and joint stiffness on the transverse joint performance and critical stresses were studied. It was found that around 40% of the wheel load is transferred through the pavement foundation and the rest through the aggregate interlocking and fibers’ lateral stiffness. Critical stresses for the fatigue cracks along the wheel path were also determined in this study. This study concluded the minimum required lateral stiffness of the structural fibers for a desired level of joint performance as a function of the pavement structure.
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    Toward the development of pavement-specific structural synthetic fibers
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2024-06) Barman, Manik; Sabu, Rohith; Sharma, Pranav; Janson, Austin
    Thin fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) pavements and overlays can be economical for low- and moderate-traffic volume roads. Due to insufficient concrete cover thickness, thin concrete pavements or overlays cannot accommodate dowel bars that are typically used in conventional thick concrete pavements. The critical distress for such applications is the transverse joint faulting because of the lack of joint load transfer between the concrete slabs. The currently available synthetic structural fibers can contribute to joint performance to a certain extent. However, as pavements experience significant slab contraction and expansion and carry both wheel and environmental loads, there is a need to design and develop fibers that will provide high joint performance and help mitigate transverse joint faulting when used at an affordable dosage. The overall goal of this study is to develop pavement-specific fibers that will yield the needed joint performance benefits to achieve the intended design life. The study is being conducted in two phases. This report is written for Phase 1 of the study. The study started with a literature review, followed by a finite element analysis, falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data analysis, and laboratory testing of fiber reinforced concrete and individual fibers embedded in concrete. The finite element results and FWD data were amalgamated to quantify the possible joint load transfer of the base layer and foundation, aggregate interlocking, and the needed contribution from the structural fibers. A procedure was established to account for the contribution of the fibers. A new parameter, namely, modulus of fiber support, was introduced to evaluate the stiffness of the fibers that participate in joint load transfer. Notably, a laboratory approach is identified to determine the modulus of fiber support, which can help determine the optimum fiber dosages as well as design and test the pavement-specific fibers in the future phase of the study.