A EUROPEAN SYNTHESIS ON DRAINAGE, SUBBASE ERODABILITY, AND LOAD TRANSFER IN CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

European research and field practice from 1977 to 1981 are described as concerns load transfer (at contraction joints of nonreinforced short slab pavements), drainage of slab-subbase contact, and subbase and shoulder erodability. For nondoweled pavements, new developments leading to better load-transfer efficiency concern mainly the reduction in slab length, the extra slab width beyond shoulder line, the reduction in hydraulic and thermal shrinkage, and the increase in coarse aggregate diameter. For doweled pavements, new developments concern the reduction in the number of dowels, anticorrosion and slipping devices, placement accuracy and vibration placement equipment. Water problems encountered in Europe for pavements with and without dowels are presented; the new draining cross-sections used in each country are described together with measurements characterizing their efficiency. After an analysis of the risk of faulting as a function of the origin of the fines, recent theoretical and practical research results on pumping hydrodynamics and subbase erodability are presented: leave slab water ejection rate equations, cement content threshold to avoid erodability in cement treated subbases, use of internally vibrated lean concrete. The second part of the paper gives the results of an international survey (26 countries, performance evaluation of 74 old pavements). Three classes are chosen for climatic conditions, and three for erodability. Traffic limits observed on the oldest pavements in good condition are given for nondoweled and for doweled pavements. Finally, quantitative recommendations are proposed in terms of compatible daily commercial vehicle traffic limits with or without dowels, for each climate and different erodability conditions. The conclusion presents a historical synthesis and an outline of future research needs. (Author)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Concrete Pavement Design, held at Purdue University, April 14-16, 1981.
• Corporate Authors:

  Purdue University

  School of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907
• Authors:
  • Ray, M
• Conference:
  • Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Concrete Pavement Design, held at Purdue University, April 14-16, 1981.
• Publication Date: 1981-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 27-39

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climate; Concrete pavements; Conferences; Contraction joints; Drainage; Erosion; Future; History; Load transfer; Pavement design; Pavement performance; Pumping (Pavements); Research; Road shoulders; Subbase (Pavements)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Future research; Subbase
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; History; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Pavements; Research; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00334239
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 16 1981 12:00AM