How many tons of vehicles can a 10 cm thick cement road bear?
4 Answers
No more than 10 tons. It depends on the bearing capacity of the compacted soil layer. The concrete cushion can bear 400 kg/m²; if it is on the ground, it can bear 1000 kg/m². The bearing capacity of a 10 cm thick concrete ground mainly depends on the compacted soil layer's bearing capacity. Generally, a 10 cm concrete cushion can bear 400 kg/m². Types of concrete: Heavy concrete: Heavy concrete usually refers to concrete with a surface density greater than 2600 kg/m³. This type of concrete is made using high-density aggregates or heavy cement (such as barium cement, strontium cement, etc.) and is mainly used as radiation shielding structural materials in nuclear engineering, hence it is also called radiation shielding concrete. Ordinary concrete: Ordinary concrete refers to concrete with a surface density between 2000-2600 kg/m³. This concrete uses cement as the cementitious material, combined with natural sand, stone, and other materials. It is the most commonly used cement concrete in current engineering construction. Lightweight concrete: Lightweight concrete usually refers to concrete with a surface density less than 1950 kg/m³. This type of concrete is mainly made using lightweight porous materials such as ceramsite, or by incorporating aerating agents or foaming agents to create a porous structure. Based on its application, lightweight concrete can be further divided into thermal insulation lightweight concrete and structural thermal insulation lightweight concrete.
I've been working on construction sites for almost twenty years, often repairing cement roads. For a 10 cm thick cement road made with ordinary C25 concrete, the load-bearing capacity is generally around 8 to 10 tons. It mainly depends on how well the road foundation is prepared. If there's a crushed stone cushion or compacted subgrade underneath, it might hold a bit more. However, during actual driving, the contact area of the wheels is crucial. Large trucks have more wheels, distributing the pressure better, which can handle an extra ton or two. Small trucks with fewer wheels exert more pressure and are more likely to cause cracks. I've seen some places skimp by laying only 10 cm, only for the road to crack badly after a few passes by gravel trucks, making repairs costly. So, my advice is not to exceed 8 tons for safety. Overloading not only damages the road but can also lead to rollover accidents.
I often drive trucks to deliver feed to rural areas, where many village roads are just 10 cm thick concrete roads. Based on my years of experience, for a typical 9-meter-long two-axle truck, carrying 10 tons and driving slowly is usually manageable, but anything over 12 tons becomes risky. Once, I was hauling 12 tons of feed, and as soon as I drove over, I heard cracking sounds from the chassis. When I got out to check, I saw cracks forming on the road surface. Later, I learned from road maintenance workers that such thin roads are especially vulnerable to concentrated loads, and unevenly distributed cargo in the truck bed can cause even more damage. So now, when I encounter such roads, I either make two trips with lighter loads or take a detour. A word of advice: always check the road condition. If you notice patches or cracks on the surface, it’s best not to exceed 6 tons. Be extra cautious on rainy days, as waterlogged roads have even weaker load-bearing capacity.
The concrete road in front of my house was just paved last year, exactly 10 centimeters thick. Once, a neighbor moved in with an 8-ton truck, and the next day the road surface showed slight subsidence. I asked a friend from the municipal office, and he said that according to design standards, this thickness should handle vehicles up to 9 tons, but in reality, after frequent use by seven or eight-ton vehicles, the road would gradually crack. He suggested keeping small trucks under 6 tons, with something like a Wuling mini-truck carrying 2 tons being the safest. Additionally, the concrete curing period is crucial; roads are most vulnerable to damage from heavy vehicles within the first 28 days after paving. Now, whenever I see overloaded trucks driving over the road in front of my house, it really pains me, especially since the money for the road repair was pooled together by everyone.
