FEM as a future-oriented alternative for the dimensioning of concrete roads
The plate theory previously used for concrete calculation is no longer considered up-to-date; the finite element method (FEM) offers itself as an alternative. On behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), a method has now been developed that allows the calculation of traffic surfaces with concrete pavement, taking probabilistics into account. One of the goals was to keep the required calculation time short.
The research results create an additional basis for the further development of the RDO Concrete with regard to the application of FEM and probabilistics. An applicable software code is now available for the updating of the regulations.