Development of a horizontal shifting mechanistic-empirical prediction model for concrete block pavement

• A horizontal shifting prediction model for concrete block pavements was developed considering block shapes and laying patterns.
• The SDM concept was proposed to explain the relationships between the individual movements and overall pattern movements of a block.
• The cumulative horizontal shifting values decreased as the SDM value increased. The results also showed that the horizontal interlocking effect also increased as the shape factor value increased.

Few studies have been conducted on horizontal shifting prediction models that consider block shapes and laying patterns for block pavements. To develop a prediction model, a combination of different block shapes and laying patterns was evaluated by computer modeling and laboratory tests. The relationship between the force and displacement was recorded via a photogrammetric method using a friction tester. In order to quantify the recorded video results, rigid body analysis was performed. The results of laboratory experiments and the rigid body analysis offered a good match. A displacement vector was used to express the movement of the block with time, according to the start and end position information of each block. Also, a concept of Specific D-Moment (SDM) was proposed to describe the relationship between the movement of the individual blocks and the entire movement. A horizontal shifting mechanistic-empirical prediction model of concrete block pavement is proposed based on regression analysis of the existing performance data. According to the prediction model, higher SDM values give lower cumulative amounts of horizontal shifting due to traffic.