NATIONWIDE PERFORMANCE OF CONCRETE PAVEMENT REHABILITATION

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of extensive field, laboratory, and analytical studies conducted into the evaluation and rehabilitation of concrete pavements. The field studies included 349 concrete pavement rehabilitation projects throughout the United States, the construction of a large load transfer restoration experiment on I-1O in Florida, and a full-depth repair experiment on I-74 in Illinois. A major laboratory study was conducted to investigate anchoring of dowels into existing concrete slabs for full-depth repair load transfer. The rehabilitation techniques studied were diamond grinding, full-depth repair, partial-depth repair, load transfer restoration, edge support restoration, bonded concrete overlay, unbonded concrete overlay and crack and seat/AC overlay. Detailed condition data, traffic data, design and construction data and climate data were collected for each project. Analyses of the field and laboratory data were conducted to identify sig­nificant factors influencing the performance of rehabilitated concrete pavements, and to develop predictive models for distresses observed on rehab­ilitated concrete pavements, including faulting, cracking, joint deterioration, rutting, and ref­ lection cracking. These models may be used to predict the performance of rehabilitated concrete pavements under various traffic, design, and climate conditions. The major findings and predictive models obtained from this study were incorporated into a computer system for evaluation and rehabilitation of jointed plain, jointed reinforced, and contin­uously reinforced concrete pavements. This practical, user-friendly system developed for use on a personal computer is intended to assist engineers in project evaluation and selection 0f cost-effective rehabilitation techniques.