Subsurface Drainage and Premature Distresses in Concrete Pavement: A Case Study in Virginia

Field and laboratory forensic investigations were used to identify the failure mechanism of a jointed plain concrete pavement with a subsurface drainage system in Virginia. Similar to many states’ practice, this subsurface drainage system consists of open-graded drainage layer and edge drains to provide positive drainage for the pavement. The investigation included a review of construction practices and pavement performance records, a visual distress survey, nondestructive testing using a falling weight deflectometer, roughness measurements using a profiler, coring and boring for materials testing, observation wells, subgrade soil classification, mineralogy, determination of concrete compressive strength, edge drain camera inspection, and slab removal. On the basis of the investigation, it was concluded that lack of positive drainage along with heavily loaded truck traffic resulted in premature failure. The water entering the pavement because of poor joint sealing was trapped in the open-graded drainage layer; this led to severe faulting, midslab cracks, pumping, and eventual failure of the pavement.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2004-15
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Subsurface+Drainage+and+Premature+Distresses+in+Concrete+Pavement%3a+A+Case+Study+in+Virginia&author=M.+Elfino&author=M.+Hossain&publication_year=2007
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Public/Blurbs/159491.aspx
• Authors:
  • Elfino, Mohamed K
  • Hossain, M Shabbir
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 141-149
• Monograph Title: Soil Mechanics 2007
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2004
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Base course (Pavements); Case studies; Compressive strength; Concrete pavements; Edge drains; Failure; Failure analysis; Field tests; Laboratory tests; Open graded aggregates; Pavement design; Pavement distress; Pavement performance; Subgrade (Pavements); Subsurface drainage; Truck traffic
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction practices; Premature failure
• Geographic Terms: Virginia
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I42: Soil Mechanics; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01044105
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309104302
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 19 2007 6:24AM