Effect of Early-Age Concrete Elastic Properties on Fatigue Damage in PCC Pavements Containing Fibers

Issa, Mohsen A.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/98913 Copy

Description

Title

Effect of Early-Age Concrete Elastic Properties on Fatigue Damage in PCC Pavements Containing Fibers

Author(s)

Issa, Mohsen A.

Issue Date

2017-12

Keyword(s)

• concrete pavement
• early opening to traffic
• synthetic fibers
• cyclic fatigue
• dynamic modulus
• toughness
• fracture-mechanics
• maturity
• freeze–thaw
• dowel bars
• jointed-pavement

Abstract

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is revising current specifications for opening new PCC (Portland cement concrete) pavements to traffic. These revisions will help keep closure times at a minimum by specifying the required concrete strength for resisting early-age fatigue damage. An extensive experimental program was conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago to determine the elastic properties of IDOT pavement (PV) and patch (PP1, PP2) mixes at early concrete age. The experimental program included testing concrete specimens as early as 12 hr with two curing regimes (73°F and 50°F). The effect of fiber inclusion was investigated by considering two types of IDOT-certified synthetic macro-fibers (W.R. Grace Strux 90/40 and BASF MasterFiber MAC Matrix) with quantities of 0, 4, 6, and 8 lbs. /yd3. The experimental program initiated with determining mechanical properties of early-age pavement and patch concrete mixes for compressive strength, flexural strength, flexural toughness, static modulus of elasticity, and linear drying shrinkage. The fracture behavior, flexural fatigue performance, and durability against freezing and thawing were investigated at early concrete age. The study also evaluated the effectiveness of nondestructive measures such as maturity and dynamic modulus of elasticity tests for predicting the strength gain for IDOT pavements mixes. Experimental and numerical data was implemented into a practical solution for opening PCC pavements to traffic loads at an early age. The proposed step-by-step procedure evaluates the fatigue life of rigid pavements for a predefined thickness, soil condition, and concrete age. Designs aids were accordingly developed for accurately estimating concrete flexural strength, pavement tensile stress, and corresponding fatigue life through practical equations, charts, and nomographs. With fiber inclusion yielding an improved structural performance, the experimental testing program was further extended by evaluating the fatigue behavior of jointed, plain-concrete pavement (JPCP) specimens at early concrete age. For this experimental task, the loading sequence, fiber content, pavement thickness, and dowel presence were investigated for a critical loading case at contraction joints. Experimental results were satisfactory for plain and fiber-reinforced jointed-slab specimens subjected to early-age cyclic fatigue loading.

Publisher

Illinois Center for Transportation/Illinois Department of Transportation

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-ICT-17-019

ISSN

0197-9191

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/98913

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

IDOT-R27-154

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

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