Optimizing roller compacted concrete pavement design for steel container stacking in heavy-duty terminals

Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) pavement has traditionally been recognized for its success in industrial paving because of its ability to bear heavy loads, reasonable cost, and low maintenance requirements. This study addresses two main objectives: firstly, to bridge a gap in existing literature by identifying critical container stacking configurations and examining the impact of joint load transfer on RCC pavement response; and secondly, to refine RCC pavement design for stacked-container applications through a comprehensive, multi-step approach. Handling the inadequacies of current design manuals in the literature, this research utilizes the ISLAB2005 FEA program, tailored for analyzing rigid pavement systems. After 84,000 simulations, the study recognizes the critical container stacking configuration, spanning single to multi-block arrangements. An additional 24,000 parametric analyses provided insights into diverse subgrade reactions, RCC strengths, and stacking heights, facilitating the development of a preliminary design thickness chart. Transfer functions based on three material permissible strength criteria (flexural, shearing, and bearing strength) were also developed. The findings indicate the significance of avoiding placing heavy loads near contraction joints, specifically construction (cold) joints. The culmination of this comprehensive approach is the development of a preliminary design chart that provides engineers with essential insights needed for making informed decisions regarding the thickness of RCC pavements in scenarios involving stacked containers.