NTL Record

Title Analysis of Cracking in Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements : [summary report]
Record ID 65757
Personal Name
Creator
Xu, Changwei; Cebon, David
Personal Name
Contributor
Walker, Deborah
Corporate Creator United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Research, Development, and Technology
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Publisher United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Research, Development, and Technology
Publication Date 20170301
Language English
Abstract This paper investigates the trends of longitudinal and transverse cracking in jointed concrete pavements based on Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program Strategic Study of Structural Factors for Rigid Pavements (SPS-2) data. The impacts of slab properties, base type, traffic volume, and environmental factors on the occurrence and extent of longitudinal and transverse cracking were identified from a simple analysis of the raw cracking data. SPS-2 sites in Arizona and Arkansas were chosen to investigate cracking mechanisms in detail. A new hypothesis for the prevalence of premature cracking on these sites was proposed and tested by numerical simulations. The analysis showed that longitudinal and transverse cracking were more sensitive to slab thickness and base type than other construction variables. Surface cracking was worse in dry climatic zones than wet zones. Most transverse cracks initiated from the slab edge close to the shoulder, and two forms of longitudinal cracks can initiate from transverse edges of slabs: a single long crack or multiple short cracks along the whole section. In addition to inadequate compaction of the base layers during construction and rehabilitation, the major contribution to premature longitudinal cracking appeared to be voiding beneath the outer edge of the pavement. This is caused by localized plastic deformation of “depressurized” soil, which occurs principally due to slab curl.
Public Note Distribution number: HRDI-30/09-17(WEB)
Rosap ID dot:38335
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/38335
TRT Terms Concrete pavements; Joints; Cracking of concrete pavements
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
1633375
Report Number FHWA-HRT-16-073
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/65000/65700/65757/FHWA-HRT-16-073.pdf
Alternative URL https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/ltpp/16073/index.cfm
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository