Fabrication and assessment of port block pavement based on the deflection and settlement characteristic

Abstract

Port pavements often experience damage, such as differential settlements and cracks, owing to soft ground and heavy equipment operations. This study focuses on developing and applying port blocks in two configurations within a port to assess its applicability based on deflection and settlement characteristics. Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests were carried out on both asphalt and block pavements to measure deflection and bearing capacity. Results indicate that the block pavement with a cement-treated base exhibited improved bearing capacity and settlement performance during port operations compared to asphalt pavement. This improvement was evident in the relative deflection and relative bearing ratios, where the cement-treated base demonstrated enhanced bearing capacity over asphalt. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) measurements revealed several settlements in the crushed-stone base due to surface loads post-construction. While both relative deflection and relative bearing ratios indicated settlement tendencies, the latter proved more consistent with the settlements. The settlements were generally less than 5 cm with the superior bearing capacity block pavement presents itself as a viable pavement for various port settings.