There are no standards or recommended procedures for the design of prestressed concrete pavements; thus design of this type of pavement presents unique opportunities and challenges. It also presents a great opportunity to use fundamentally based engineering design methodology rather than the relatively common empirical methods. It is to be anticipated that, as lifecycle costs assume greater importance in the selection of paving solutions, the structural durability of prestressed concrete pavements will make them a competitive alternative, particularly if operational delay caused by maintenance work is a major factor. This paper presents a synthesis of technology appropriate to the design of prestressed concrete pavements. All features of the design calculation are considered, from defining the loading conditions through calculation of both wheel load stresses and those caused by environmental factors, to selection of appropriate limiting stresses for the concrete. Since design is a creative procedure, and designers should be free to use their creative talents to the full, where appropriate, alternative procedures have been described leaving individuals to select the method most appropriate to their needs.
A.F. Stock