Accelerated Pavement Testing Of Extended Life Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Sections

Kohler, Erwin; Roesler, Jeffrey

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/46013 Copy

Description

Title

Accelerated Pavement Testing Of Extended Life Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Sections

Author(s)

• Kohler, Erwin
• Roesler, Jeffrey

Issue Date

2006-12

Keyword(s)

Concrete, Pavement, CRCP, Test Sections, Reinforcing steel, Transverse crack, Crack width, Crack width profile, Crack induction, Accelerated Pavement Testing, Punchouts

Abstract

Ten CRCP sections were built at the ATREL full-scale testing facility, with five sections being tested under accelerated traffic loading conditions and five sections evaluated for induced transverse cracks. The opening and closing of cracks was measured at several transverse cracks, along with vertical deflections, transverse strains at the top of the slab, and internal pavement temperature. Two procedures were developed to determine crack width from the measurement of crack closing. These procedures used the horizontal deformation caused by changing the vertical load level or temperature condition to determine the in situ crack width. By calibrating the crack width model presented in the mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (ME-PDG), crack width values obtained under different temperature conditions could be standardized. The model was adapted to predict crack width at any depth in the slab and an enhancement is proposed to use the model for predicting short-term changes in crack width. Continuous surveying of the pavements for more than two years and the sequential application of a large number of rolling-wheel loads on each section allowed for the collection of response data and observation of CRCP failure mechanism. Comparisons are presented regarding the elastic responses in sections with different design features (PCC thickness, steel content, and steel depth). Under conditions of small crack width (less than 0.15 mm), load transfer capacity at the transverse cracks remained intact despite heavy traffic loads and seasonal thermal cycles. Failure of the CRCP sections resulted from permanent deformation in the supporting layers. This report includes evaluation of crack width variability and use of FWD to characterize in situ crack width of field CRC pavements. Recommendations are made for the improvement of CRCP construction based on early age temperature, concrete drying shrinkage, and induction of transverse cracks.

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-IL-UI-289

ISSN

0197-9191

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/46013

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Illinois Department of Transportation IHR-R32

Copyright and License Information

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

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