Comparison of Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation Strategies to Mitigate Reflection Cracking Through Long-Term Field Monitoring

In 2001, six 305-meter long concrete pavement test sections were constructed in Des Moines, Iowa with six different concrete pavement rehabilitation methods: 1) 5-inch overlay with control mix 141, 2) 5-inch overlay with control mix 235, 3) 5-inch overlay with control mix 235 and crack retarding strip, 4) 4-inch overlay with control mix 235 and crack relief layer and 5) 7.5-inch overlay with control mix 235 over rubblization and 6) 9-inch overlay with control mix 235 over rubblization. A 3/8th-inch thick and 12-inch wide crack retarding strip of PMA binder was applied directly over the existing transverse cracks. A crack relief layer was designed with a low air voids ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 percent and a high content (7.0 %) of PG 76-34 PMA binder. Rubblization of the concrete pavement was performed using a multi-head breaker resulting in pieces as large as one to three feet across in the areas with a soft subgrade. Since then, the test sections have been evaluated in 2003, 2005, and 2007 using the automated image collection system for measuring reflection cracking from the underlying concrete pavements. The pavement surface images were analyzed to determine the relative effectiveness of four different rehabilitation strategies. Based on the past five years of monitoring efforts, the rubblization technique appears to be the most effective method in retarding reflection cracking whereas the test sections with a crack relief layer exhibited the highest amount of reflection cracking. It should be noted, however, that the overlay placed on top of rubblization section is much thicker than the other test sections.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Kim, Jungyong
  • Lee, Hosin David
  • Heitzman, Michael
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2008-1-13 to 2008-1-17
• Date: 2008

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20p
• Monograph Title: TRB 87th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Comminution; Concrete pavements; Mix design; Overlays (Pavements); Pavement maintenance; Rehabilitation; Retarders (Concrete)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Reflective cracking
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01105406
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 08-3046
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jul 31 2008 3:24PM