LABORATORY AND FIELD TESTS CAN PREDICT LONG-TERM FIELD PERFORMANCE OF JOINT SEALANTS

Abstract

Laboratory tests used in the rubber industry can be valuable tools in predicting relative field performance of several generic highway joint sea­lants. When tested at high or low temperatures or after accelerated weathering, certain sealants show reduced ability to withstand joint movement caused by expansion and contraction of pavement sections. The ability of these sealants to with­ stand vertical deflections caused by heavy trucks on concrete pavement slabs is also affected. These test results may explain why some sealants have limited field success even though they may pass extension/compression tests run at room tem­perature on unaged material.