DESIGN AND ECONOMY ASPECTS OF CONTINUOUSLY REINFORCED CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

Abstract

Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (C.R.C.P) is used for roads carrying very high volume of commercial traffic and where maintenance of road is difficult. This type of pavement is provided with main reinforcement in longitudinal direction. This pavement theoretically has no transverse joints except construction joints provided at the end of a day’s job. A longitudinal joint is provided only if the road is wider than 4.5m. Approximately 0.3-0.4 percent of the sectional area of concrete slab is provided as longitudinal steel in pavements with elastic joints whereas without joints this reinforcement is 0.6-0.85 percent. Due to less number of joints smoothness and riding comfort of CRCP is better which results in low vehicle operation cost. Also CRCP road has longer life if properly constructed and care is taken while placement of steel. The demerits of CRCP is its high initial cost but merit is that it is maintenance free. This paper presents an overview of the cost of CRCP versus the conventional concrete pavemen.