Dimensionamento de pavimentos de concreto utilizando o programa computacional KENSLABS 2004 e comparação com o método da PCA 1984.

Abstract

This paper presents a commented and reviewed bibliography concerning the main aspects related to mechanistic design of a concrete pavement, taking into account the effect of weather, traffic and the characteristics of the materials used in the pavement. Discusses, briefly, the methods and existing programs and in detail the PCA Method 1984 and the KENSLABS 2004 computer program, based on the finite element method for analysis of stresses and deflections in concrete pavements. It also presents an exploratory and sensitivity analysis of the program about fatigue and erosion damage and presents the design of a hypothetical pavement, using the PCA method and KENSLABS program, with comparison of the results. The program KENSLABS presents great advantages over the PCA method 1984, it may highlight the more realistic modeling of the subbase and the possibility of considering the effect of thermal gradients in the stresses and deformations caused by warping of the plate, which can reach magnitudes greater than twice those found when the isolated action of road loads.