Investigating the effects of glass fiber in enhancing concrete pavement performance

Flexible pavements are considered more sustainable than concrete pavements primarily due to the higher long-term maintenance and rehabilitation costs associated with concrete pavements. Concrete pavements possess a higher modulus of elasticity, which allows them to distribute vehicle loads over a larger area, thereby enhancing the strength of the pavement. However, despite this advantage, their flexural strength is relatively low. As a result, there has been a growing focus on research to improve the flexural strength of concrete pavements to increase their overall performance and sustainability. This study aimed to reveal the effects of enhanced mechanical properties of concrete reinforced with glass fiber on concrete pavements, specifically under heavy vehicle loading as in real-world conditions. The impact of glass fiber on the thickness of both the concrete and base layers, as well as the quality of the base layer material and transverse joint spacing, was assessed. For this purpose, 3D finite element models were developed using ANSYS software, considering concrete thicknesses of 100, 150, and 200 mm, glass fiber ratios of 0%, 0.5%, and 1%, base layer elastic moduli of 100, 200, and 300 MPa, and transverse joint spacings of 300, 450, and 600 mm. It was determined that the concrete thickness and the base layer modulus of elasticity were the most influential factors in minimizing flexural stress, total deformation, and equivalent total strain. The glass fiber addition had a more notable impact on maximum principal stress, especially at the 1% ratio, but had a minimal effect on total deformation and strain. Transverse joint spacing had the least effect, although shorter spacings are still recommended to reduce the risk of transverse cracking in stiffer base layers.