Based on the equivalence principle of deflection and stress, the concentrated vehicle load which acts on the center of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) is translated into the equivalent half-wave sine load by the Fourier transform. On the basis of this transform and the small deflection theory of elastic thin plates, the deflection and stress formulae of CRCP under the concentrated vehicle load with a hollow foundation are put forward. The sensitivity of parameters is analyzed. The results show that maximum deflection is directly proportional to the concentrated vehicle load and the slab width, and inversely proportional to the lateral bending stiffness and slab thickness. The effects of slab width and thickness are significant with regard to maximum deflection. Maximum stress is directly proportional to the concentrated vehicle load and the slab width as well as inversely proportional to slab thickness. The effect of slab thickness is significant with regard to maximum stress. According to the calculation results, the most effective measure to reduce maximum deflection and stress is to increase slab thickness.
In order to study the critical load position that causes cavities beneath the continuously reinforced concrete pavement( CRCP) slab under vehicle loading, the elliptical load is translated into the square load based on the equivalence principle.The CRCP slab is analyzed to determine the cavity position beneath the slab under vehicle loading. The influences of cavity size on the CRCP slab's stress and vertical displacement are investigated. The study results showthat the formation of the cavity is unavoidable under traffic loading, and the cavity is located at the edge of the longitudinal crack and the slab corner.The cavity size exerts an obvious influence on the largest horizontal tensile stress and vertical displacement. The slab corner is the critical load position of the CRCP slab. The results can be used to assist the design of CRCP in avoiding cavities beneath slabs subject to vehicle loading.