POSTTENSIONED CONCRETE PAVEMENT

This report covers the initial main-line installation of a posttensioned concrete pavement in Pennsylvania. A pavement thickness of only 6 inches was possible through the use of posttensioned strands in the slab. The installation was a single slab 500 feet in length and 24 feet wide. It rests on 3-in. bituminous concrete base and a 9-in. subbase, with a slip plane provided between the base and slab. There are 10 longitudinal strands in the slab as well as transverse reinforcement. The construction methods used and details of placement and materials are discussed. Concrete was placed over the strands by conventional slip-form paving equipment. Hydraulic jacking was used to apply tension in two increments during the curing period. Posttensioning promises to provide a crack-free pavement structure, thereby eliminating a source of deterioration and need for maintenance. It is too soon to make conclusions on the performance of this installation, although cracks have not appeared. The future of posttensioned pavement will depend mainly on cost of construction and benefits in relation to other pavement types.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr148/sr148-006.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0360859X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Presented at the 6th Summer Meeting of the Transportation Research Board in cooperation with the Washington Department of Highways, August 6-8, 1973, Olympia, Washington.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Gramling, Wade L
  • Brunner, Raymond J
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 57-64
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 148
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0360-859X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete pavements; Construction management; Pavement performance; Pavements; Paving; Posttensioning; Slabs; Slip form paving; Thickness; Transverse reinforcement
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pavement thickness
• Old TRIS Terms: Strands
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080980
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 26 1975 12:00AM