Evaluation Methodology for Laying Pattern of Interlocking Concrete Block Pavements Using a Displacement-Moment Concept

Concrete block pavements (CBP) are increasingly used in pedestrian roads and low-volume highways. Concrete block pavements experience various failure modes, including shifting, cracking, spalling, and erosion of jointing sand. One of the most important causes of failure is the interlocking with high force between weak blocks. Laying patterns affect the global and local behaviors of different block types. A simple and efficient testing program was introduced and conducted for evaluating the interlocking performance of complex block shapes and different block patterns under horizontal loading conditions. An image technique, video capturing and block movement plots, was also applied to consider the individual movement of laid blocks on a test setup. A displacement-moment (D-moment) concept was suggested to interpret the local and global behavior of different block types and patterns. Typical rectangular and shaped block types with three different laying patterns such as stretcher, basket weave, and herringbone were compared in executed experimental results and interpreted parameters, i.e., maximum force, energy, and D-moment.