FACTORS AFFECTING DETERIORATION OF TRANSVERSE CRACKS IN JOINTED REINFORCED CONCRETE PAVEMENTS. FINAL REPORT

Jointed reinforced concrete pavements (JRCP) develop transverse cracks as the drying and thermal shrinkage of the concrete is resisted by friction with the supporting layers. These cracks deteriorate with time and traffic due to loss of aggregate-interlock load transfer capacity. This report describes the first year of a laboratory investigation to determine the relative effects of a few selected factors (coarse aggregate type, gradation, and treatment) on transverse crack deterioration in JRCP. The work described herein focused on the development, execution, collection and analysis of load transfer data from the testing of a series of large-scale pavement test specimens that were subjected to repeated applications of loads simulating the passage of heavy truck traffic. Test results indicate that slabs cast using crushed limestone and natural gravel graded to meet Michigan Department of Transportation specification 6A (1.5 in. top size, coarser gradation) perform comparably while specimens cast using similarly graded slag deteriorate much more rapidly. The use of more finely graded gravels meeting MDOT specification 17A (1.0 in. top size, finer gradation) resulted in performance only slightly worse than that of the larger gravel. Finally, specimens using 100% recycled gravel concrete (6A gradation) or a blend of recycled gravel concrete and large crushed limestone (MDOT gradation 4A, 2.5 in. top size) performed only slightly better than the slag specimen. Test results also suggest that the amount of steel currently used in Michigan JRCP (0.17% by area of concrete) may be insufficient to endure the combined effects of repeated truck traffic and environmental loads.

• Corporate Authors:

  Michigan State University, East Lansing

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  East Lansing, MI  United States  48824-1226
• Authors:
  • Snyder, M B
  • Raja, Z I
• Publication Date: 1991-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 118 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregate gradation; Coarse aggregates; Concrete pavements; Crushed limestone; Data analysis; Data collection; Deterioration; Gravel; Laboratory tests; Load transfer; Material reinforcement; Mathematical analysis; Pavement joints; Performance evaluations; Recycled materials; Slag coarse aggregates; Transverse cracking
• Old TRIS Terms: Test results
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00624883
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GLCTTR 18-91/1
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 4 1993 12:00AM