Structural and economic performance of short-panel concrete pavement with tied concrete shoulder

This study evaluates the structural and economic performance of short-panel concrete pavement (SPCP) with and without tied concrete shoulders in comparision with conventional jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP). Panel sizes varying from 500 × 500 to 1500 × 1500 mm were analysed under wheel and temperature loading for pavement thicknesses of 100–200 mm and subgrade strengths of 40–300 MPa/m. For SPCP with tied concrete shoulders, both aggregate interlocking and dowel bar mechanisms were considered for the analysis. The performance was assessed based on flexural stress, deflection, load transfer efficiency (LTE), and lifecycle cost. Results indicate that SPCP significantly reduces flexural stress and deflection compared with standard JPCP. SPCP with tied concrete shoulders performed better than configurations without shoulders, while the dowel bar mechanism showed superior performance over aggregate interlocking. Among all configurations, the 1000 × 1000 mm panel with a 0.5 m tied concrete shoulder and with dowel bars provided the optimum balance of structural performance, LTE, and economic efficiency, achieving approximately 45% cost savings compared with standard JPCP. The study demonstrates that SPCP is a practical and economical solution for high-temperature regions and low- to medium-traffic pavements.