CONSTRUCTION OF A PREFABRICATED HIGHWAY TEST SECTION

A UNIQUE SECTION OF HIGHWAY IS BEING TESTED UNDER REGULAR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON THE US-14 BYPASS NEAR BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA. IT CONSISTS OF A 900-FT STRETCH OF TWO-LANE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTED OF PRECAST, PRESTRESSED CONCRETE PANELS 6 FT WIDE, 24 FT LONG, AND 4 1/2 IN. THICK. THE PANELS ARE OVERLAID WITH A BITUMINOUS MAT THAT RANGES IN THICKNESS FROM 3 IN. AT THE CENTERLINE TO 1 1/2 IN. AT THE EDGES. THE PREFABRICATED PANELS ARE DESIGNED TO REPLACE CONVENTIONAL PAVEMENT MORE THAN 10 IN. THICK THAT MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THE HEAVIER LOADS OF THE FUTURE. EVALUATION OF STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE IS CONTINUING AND WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE. THIS PAPER IS A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEDURES UTILIZED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS TEST SECTION. A COST SUMMARY IS ALSO INCLUDED SHOWING THAT THIS TYPE OF PAVEMENT COSTS ABOUT $15 PER SQ YD. THE COST IS NOT COMPETITIVE WITH CURRENT CONVENTIONAL PAVEMENTS. HOWEVER, THE PRECAST, PRESTRESSED CONCRETE PANEL CONCEPT WAS VISUALIZED AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR FUTURE HIGHWAY LOADS THAT MAY REQUIRE INCREASED THICKNESS FOR CONVENTIONAL PAVEMENTS. AT THAT TIME, THIS TYPE OF PREFABRICATED HIGHWAY COULD BECOME ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE. /AUTHOR/

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1972/389/389-003.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by Committee on Rigid Pavement Construction. 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.
• Authors:
  • Larson, Lorys J
  • Haug, Wayne R
• Publication Date: 1972

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 18-24
• Monograph Title: Concrete pavement construction and joint sealants
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 389
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous materials; Costs; Precast concrete; Prefabricated structures; Prestressed concrete; Surface treating; Test sections
• Uncontrolled Terms: Future growth
• Old TRIS Terms: Bituminous surfacing
• Subject Areas: Construction; Finance; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00215542
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 19 1972 12:00AM