Comprehensive Rigid Pavement Design Course

CONCRETE PAVEMENT
DESIGN DETAILS AND
CONSTRUCTION
PRACTICES
A Training Course
National Highway
Institute

Federal Highway
Administration

SESSION 1
Overview

Introduction
 Focus of concrete pavement design:
SLAB THICKNESS
 Does slab thickness solve all concrete
pavement performance problems?

Distress Type?

Distress Type?

Distress Type?

Distress Type?

Distress Type?

Distress Type?

Distress Type?

Comprehensive Concrete
Pavement Design
 More than just slab thickness
 Direct consideration of other design
elements, e.g.,
– Joint spacing
– Load transfer
– Shoulder design
 Design pavement as a system

Overall Course Objectives
 Recognize effect of design features on
performance
 Select appropriate design features
 Identify construction practices critical to
performance
Focus is on jointed plain
concrete pavements

General Design Considerations
Traffic
Design Life
Subgrade
Reliability
Climate
Costs
Other Factors

Concrete
Pavement Design
and Construction
Process

Select Concrete Pavement Type
Specific Concrete Pavement Design Elements
Subgrade Characterization
Drainage Design
Base Selection and Design
Thickness Design
Joint Design
Shoulder Design

Construction

Special Design
and Construction
Considerations
for Reinforced
Pavements

Course Content
DAY ONE
 Course Introduction
 Concrete pavement type selection
 Subgrade characterization

Course Content
DAY TWO
 Drainage considerations
 Base selection and design
 Thickness design
 Joint design
 Shoulder considerations

Course Content (cont’d)
DAY THREE
 Construction considerations
 Special considerations for
reinforced pavements (optional)

Course Format
 Lecture/discussion
 Workshops
 Protocol:
– Informal
– Questions are encouraged
– Class participation is essential

Workshops
 Opportunity to apply course concepts
 Most are computer-oriented:
– Selection of k-value
– Base and drainage selection
– Preliminary thickness design
– Final pavement design
– Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Course Reference Materials
 Concrete Pavement Design Details
and Construction Practices —
Technical Digest
 Concrete Pavement Design Details
and Construction Practices —
Participant’s Workbook

Related NHI Courses
 Techniques for Pavement Rehabilitation (No. 13108)
 Portland Cement Concrete Materials (No. 13119)
 Pavement Subsurface Drainage Design (No. 13126)
 Construction of Portland Cement Concrete
Pavements (No. 13133)
 Pavement Distress Identification (No. 13134)

http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov

Summary
 Comprehensive pavement design
– More than just slab thickness
– Selection/incorporation of design features
 Overview of course
– Course content
– Format
– Reference materials