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.
