G.A.A. Caecarma, A. Munawir, A. Soehardjono
This study investigates the deflection behavior and cost efficiency of rigid pavement concrete slabs, focusing on variations in California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of subgrade. Rigid pavement, made of reinforced concrete with the assumption of an elastic foundation, experiences deflection due to loads influenced by the CBR of subgrade. Fluctuating loads can cause abnormal deflection, leading to damage, shorter service life and increased costs. Experimental studies were carried out using concrete slabs with dimensions of 2000 x 600 x 200 mm and CBR of subgrade values of 5.73%, 8.07% and 11.81%, with a concrete quality limit of 35 MPa. A soil box with a height of 300 mm is used to simulate foundation conditions. The results show that higher CBR values reduce deflection but increase costs, while lower CBR values produce higher deflections at lower costs. Cost efficiency is classified based on road class, with a maximum allowable deflection of 4.00 mm. For Class I roads with a heaviest axle load (HAL) > 100 kN, the recommended cost > $50.78. For Class II roads with HAL ≤ 100 kN, the recommended cost ≤ $50.78, and for Class III roads with HAL ≤ 80 kN, the recommended cost ≤ $50.21. These findings provide insight into improving rigid pavement standards, particularly in terms of cost efficiency and sustainable road infrastructure, with the next section detailing the experimental methods, results and implications for construction and maintenance. © 2025 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang, 65145, Indonesia
