Quebec's Experience with Smoothness Specifications on Concrete Pavements

Smoothness is one of the most important characteristics of pavement because it directly affects the traveling public. Furthermore, the initial smoothness reflects the quality of construction and is an essential condition for the pavement's future performance. The Quebec Ministry of Transportation (MTQ) has been using smoothness specifications for all concrete pavement projects since the early 1990s. The Profile Ride Index (PRI) was replaced in 1998 by the International Roughness Index (IRI) so the same specifications would apply for concrete and asphalt pavements. IRI specifications stated that profile measurements be made with a truck-mounted inertial profiler after the work is finished. Today, some contractors are still using the profilograph for control purposes during construction and there has been an increase in diamond grinded surface area, up to 32% on some projects. A study was undertaken in 2000 to assess different kinds of roughness measuring equipment (profilograph, Disptick©, lightweight intertial profiler, rolling profiler and 2 types of truck-mounted inertial profiler) and determine those that would be best suited for construction control. This study concluded that the rolling profiler was the best equipment for this purpose. In 2003, MTQ experimented with modified specifications requiring that roughness measurements be made using a rolling profiler and forbidding any surface correction before the measurements were made. The main benefits of this method were that MTQ could check the 100 m control lots soon after they were built instead of waiting until the end of the work and the contractors could also use the results for own quality control.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.pavement.com/ecommerce/main.html
• Corporate Authors:

  International Society for Concrete Pavements

  Texas Transportation Institute, CE/TTI Bldg, Rm 503E, TAMU 3135
  College Station, TX  United States  77842-3135
• Authors:
  • Thebeau, Denis
  • Delisle, Marie-Christine
  • Cormier, Bertrand
• Conference:
  • Eighth International Conference on Concrete Pavements
  • Location: Colorado Springs CO, United States
  • Date: 2005-8-14 to 2005-8-18
• Publication Date: 2005

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 718-732
• Monograph Title: Eighth International Conference on Concrete Pavements: Innovations for Concrete Pavement: Technology Transfer for the Next Generation, Volumes 1, 2 and 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Concrete pavements; Construction; Diamond grinding; Measurement; Pavement performance; Profilographs; Quality control; Roughness; Smoothness
• Identifier Terms: Disptick; International Roughness Index
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lightweight inertial profiler; Rolling profiler
• Geographic Terms: Quebec (Canada)
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Highways; Materials; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I32: Concrete; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01023575
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 28 2006 9:12AM