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Using Foamed Concrete Layer to Optimize the Design of Pavement and Subgrade Structures: from the Perspectives Economy and Durability

  • Research Article-Civil Engineering
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Abstract

Engineers are often greatly concerned about the expenditure of construction when using foamed concrete as a structural layer in subgrade. However, few studies have focused on a reasonable optimization design method for foamed concrete composite subgrade. Therefore, the primary originality and novelty of this research lie in investigating the beneficial stress adjusting effect of the foamed concrete layer and provided a method for engineers to optimize the design of foamed concrete composite subgrade considering both economy and durability. First, through the calculation results from elastic layer system theory, it is found that the application of foamed concrete composite subgrade can achieve a 24.1% reduction in surfacing deflection. The foamed concrete layer can adjust the distribution of tensile stress in driving direction, thereby prolonging the service life of roads. Next, by conducting orthogonal tests, the elastic modulus of the foamed concrete layer and the thickness and elastic modulus of the base were observed to exert the main influence on the fatigue life of roads. The elastic modulus and thickness of the subbase are recommended to be 3000‒4000 MPa and 10‒12 cm, while the elastic moduli of foamed concrete layer and base are recommended to be 1600‒2000 MPa and 5500‒7000 MPa, respectively. Finally, based on the relationship among the base thickness, fatigue life of the road, and construction expenditure, the thickness of the base was divided into the economy, balance, and durability domains. According to these three domains, the corresponding optimization schemes were then proposed from the perspectives of economy and durability.

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Abbreviations

E :

Elastic modulus

E 1 :

Elastic modulus of base

E 2 :

Elastic modulus of subbase

E 3 :

Elastic modulus of foamed concrete layer

F :

Defined statistic index

K :

Sum of result index

N f :

Fatigue life of the overall road

N f 1 :

Fatigue life of base

N f 2 :

Fatigue life of subbase

N f 3 :

Fatigue life of foamed concrete

N f ,n :

Required fatigue life according to the traffic requirement

N f ,r :

Target fatigue life calculated from the budget mr

N f (IBSM):

Fatigue life of inorganic binder stable materials

R s :

The flexural strength of inorganic binder stable materials

a, b :

Regression parameters in fatigue tests

d :

Diameter of equivalent circle

f :

Flexural strength of foamed concrete

h :

Thickness of structural layer

h 1 :

Thickness of base

h 1,1 :

Target thickness of base calculated from the fatigue life

h 1,2 :

Safe thickness of base considering 10–15% increment of h1,1

h 1,3 :

Target thickness of base calculated from the budget mr

h 2 :

Thickness of subbase

h 3 :

Thickness of foamed concrete layer

k :

The average of the sum of result index

k T2 :

Adjustment coefficient of temperature

k a :

Adjustment coefficient for the seasonal frozen-soil area

k c :

Field comprehensive correction factor

m :

Cost of construction

m 1 :

The cost calculated from the fatigue life

m r :

Budget of construction

p :

Wheel pressure

β :

Target reliability index

σ t :

Tensile stress at the bottom of structural layer

σ t ,FC :

Tensile stress at the bottom of foamed concrete layer

σ t ,base :

Tensile stress at the bottom of base

σ t ,subbase :

Tensile stress at the bottom of subbase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Qilu Transportation, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China

    Hongbo Zhang, Jun Wang, Mingpeng Liu & Jianqing Wu

  2. Shandong High-Speed Group Co. Ltd., Jinan, 250101, China

    Chuan Wang

  3. Institute of Geomechanics and Underground Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Mingpeng Liu

Authors
  1. Hongbo Zhang
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  2. Jun Wang
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  3. Chuan Wang
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  4. Mingpeng Liu
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Correspondence to Mingpeng Liu or Jianqing Wu.

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Zhang, H., Wang, J., Wang, C. et al. Using Foamed Concrete Layer to Optimize the Design of Pavement and Subgrade Structures: from the Perspectives Economy and Durability. Arab J Sci Eng 48, 12859–12874 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-07606-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-07606-1

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