CRACKING IN CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

Several theories explaining the mechanisms and intervals of cracking of portland cement concrete pavements are reviewed. For plain and jointed pavements, the cracking interval was found to be approximately twice (when expressed in feet) the strength (when expressed in psi) of the concrete. For new concrete with a 30-psi (0.2-MPa) tensile strength after only a few hours, the drying-shrinkage or cooling crack interval is approx 60 ft (18 m). This is a basis for sawing joints at approx 50 ft (15 m) intervals before the concrete is 16 hrs old. For concrete with a compressive strength of 4,500 psi (31 MPa) and sawed joints, the interval between blowups or crushed joints would be about 1 mile (1.6 km). This is the basis for spacing expansion joints approx 0.5 mile to 1 mile (0.8 km to 1.6 km) apart. A theory of differential temperature expansion-contraction between concrete and steel explains the ultimate crack interval of continuously reinforced concrete pavements between 2 ft and 6 ft (0.6 m and 2 m). This interval was verified by field observations.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/8674831
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Deen, R C
  • Havens, J H
  • Rahal, A S
• Publication Date: 1980-3

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 155-169
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transportation Engineering
  • Volume: 106
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-947X
  • Serial URL: https://ascelibrary.org/journal/jtepbs

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete; Concrete construction; Continuously reinforced concrete pavements; Cracking; Joints (Engineering); Pavement cracking; Pavements; Portland cement concrete; Reinforced concrete; Roads; Tensile strength; Time intervals
• Old TRIS Terms: Joint
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00312317
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 22 1980 12:00AM