Effect of Design and Site Factors on the Long-Term Performance of Flexible Pavements

Results are presented from a study to evaluate the relative influence of design and site factors on the performance of in-service flexible pavements. The data are from the SPS-1 experiment of the Long-Term Pavement Performance program. This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of HMA surface layer thickness, base type, base thickness, and drainage on the performance of new flexible pavements constructed in different site conditions (subgrade type and climate). Base type was found to be the most critical design factor affecting fatigue cracking, roughness (IRI), and longitudinal cracking (wheel path). The best performance was shown by pavement sections with asphalt treated bases (ATB). This effect should be interpreted in light of the fact that an ATB effectively means a thicker HMA layer. Drainage and base type, when combined, also play an important role in improving performance, especially in terms of fatigue and longitudinal cracking. Base thickness has only secondary effects on performance, mainly in the case of roughness and rutting. In addition, climatic conditions were found to have a significant effect on flexible pavement performance. Wheel path longitudinal cracking and transverse cracking seem to be associated with a wet-freeze environment, while nonwheel path longitudinal cracking seems to be dominant in a freeze climate. In general, pavements built on fine-grained soils have shown the worst performance, especially in terms of roughness. Although most of the findings from this study support the existing understanding of pavement performance, they also provide an overview of the interactions between design and site factors and new insights for achieving better long-term pavement performance.     

Finite Element Analysis of Concrete Pavements Over Culverts

Accelerated distress of Portland cement concrete pavements (PCCP) over structures such as culverts, pipes, and tunnels beneath roadways is a common occurrence. In this article, finite element analysis is employed to analyze the response of concrete pavements over such structures. The factors that influence the overlying pavement slabs include: (1) cover depth, (2) pavement slab thickness and length, (3) cement concrete elastic modulus, (4) foundation modulus, and (5) backfill soil modulus. The tensile stresses at the bottom and top of the slab induced by wheel loads are predicted. In the traditional pavement design only the tensile stress at the bottom of the slab is considered to be significant. However, this study shows that the tensile stress at the top surface of pavement slabs over culverts may also cause the concrete pavements to fail. A laboratory model was employed to study the mechanical characteristics of Portland cement concrete pavement slabs over culverts and to verify the theoretical analysis.     

Spectral Analysis and Parametric Study of Stochastic Pavement Loads

This paper investigates the effects of vehicle parameters, speed, and surface roughness on the power spectral density (PSD) of stochastic pavement loads. Pavement surface roughness is modeled as a zero-mean stationary random field. A quarter-vehicle model is established to simulate the vibrations of heavy and passenger vehicles with typical parameters. Tire damping is also included in the consideration of stochastic pavement loads; this was assumed to be zero in many previous investigations. The PSD roughness proposed by the ISO is adopted in the simulation of the loads. An important indicator of the stochastic loads, the so-called energy cumulative distribution function, is introduced to describe the frequency distribution of load energy. The results show that passenger vehicles produce more high-frequency loads than heavy vehicles, while more of the loads generated by heavy vehicle are primarily distributed in the low-frequency region. It is also found that the effect of tire damping on stochastic pavement loads is not negligible especially if the loads of interest are concentrated in the high-frequency region. The results of the study may be useful in optimum design of vehicle suspensions and prediction of dynamic pavement response.     

Structural Evaluation of Cement Concrete Roads in Mumbai City

Plain jointed concrete pavements laid in Mumbai City (India) during the early 1990s were structurally evaluated using a falling weight deflectometer (FWD) and testing of concrete cores extracted from the pavement slabs. The ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) of the concrete in the cores was determined first and then the cores were crushed under compression. The pavement deflections were found to be within the limits as suggested in the Indian codes and the international literature. The joint conditions were also found to be satisfactory. The design strength of the concrete was back-calculated from the compressive strength of the cores and was found to conform to the design specifications. However, the construction quality was found wanting as the thickness of pavement slabs at a few locations was lower than that specified and it has resulted in cracking of the slabs. The dynamic modulus of elasticity of concrete as determined by the FWD was found to correspond well with that computed from the UPV of cores and from the compressive strength of concrete. A method is suggested to estimate the structural parameters of uncracked pavement slabs from the dynamic modulus of elasticity obtained through the indirect method of UPV testing which is less expensive compared to evaluation by the FWD.     

“Underlying” Causes for Settlement of Bridge Approach Pavement Systems

A comprehensive field study of 74 bridges in Iowa was conducted to characterize problems leading to poor performance of bridge approach pavement systems. Subsurface void development caused by water infiltration through unsealed expansion joints, collapse and erosion of the granular backfill, and poor construction practices were found to be the main contributing factors. To characterize the problem, International Roughness Index and profile measurements from several sites were used to show that approach pavement roughness is several times higher than the average roadway condition and are most severe at the abutment-to-approach pavement intersection and transverse expansion joints due to large (5–10?cm) joint widths. Further, a settlement time history was documented at one bridge site by measuring the approach slab pavement elevations periodically after completion of bridge construction, revealing a progressive settlement problem under the approach pavement. To better understand the void development under the approach pavement, laboratory compaction tests were performed on granular backfill materials from various bridge sites to quantify their saturated collapse potential in the postconstruction phase. These tests revealed collapse potential of backfill materials in the range of 5–18% (based on volume) with the high values for poorly graded sandy backfill materials, indicating significant settlement problems. Based on the research findings, some relatively simple design and construction modifications are suggested which could be used to alleviate field problems for similar bridge approach pavement systems.     

Gray System Model for Estimating the Pavement International Roughness Index

The international roughness index (IRI) is a measurement of pavement roughness that is widely accepted for evaluating pavement serviceability, especially its riding quality. Generally, as the age of pavement increases, its condition deteriorates and its IRI value increases. However, the IRI data collected from the Indiana highway system indicate that the IRI values vary considerably for similar pavements and traffic conditions at any given pavement age. This makes it difficult to establish the relationship between IRI and pavement age. In this study, the gray system theory was used to estimate the maximum, mean, and minimum IRI values at different pavement ages. It is believed that the three IRI values are essential for evaluating pavement serviceability. This paper presents the process of the gray system modeling for IRI estimation and discusses the effects of traffic volume on pavement roughness and the estimation accuracy of the gray system models.     

Forensic Investigation of Ultrathin Whitetopping Pavements in Florida

Developed in the early 1990s, ultrathin whitetopping (UTW) is a relatively new technique for asphalt pavement rehabilitation. To evaluate the applicability of UTW pavement in Florida, in 1997, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) constructed an experimental UTW pavement in a weigh station along I-10, located in north Florida. The performance of these test sections, however, was less than ideal, with the observation of some early cracking on the concrete surface, which developed into severe cracking with time. Therefore, a forensic investigation was conducted to determine the causes of the problems in these UTW sections, so that lessons could be learned from this experimental project, the use of UTW under Florida’s conditions could be adequately assessed, and UTW technology could be properly applied in the future. The scope of work consisted of field evaluation, laboratory testing, and pavement design evaluation. Field evaluation included a pavement condition survey, pavement temperature measurement, nondestructive load testing using a falling weight deflectometer, and slab thickness determination. Laboratory tests were performed to determine concrete and asphalt material properties. Other design and traffic data were also acquired from FDOT. Data collected from the field evaluation and laboratory testing were used in conjunction with a mechanistic UTW pavement design/evaluation procedure to determine the possible causes for premature failure. From this comprehensive evaluation, the primary cause for the failure was found to be inadequate UTW pavement design. The inadequacy of the combination of thickness and slab dimensions contributed to the early cracking of the UTW pavement.     

武钢钢渣用作AC-10I型细粒沥青砼集料的研究

分析钢渣用作AC-10I型细粒沥青混凝土集料的性质以及其用于沥青混凝土路面的使用性能,发现钢渣具有良好的物理力学性能。与传统路面相比,钢渣沥青混凝土的路面性能优良,具有广阔的应用前景。     

钢渣SMA-13沥青混凝土及其服役性能研究

分析了钢渣SMA-13沥青混凝土集料的性质以及其用于沥青混凝土路面的服役性能,发现钢渣具有良好的物理力学性能。与传统SMA沥青混凝土路面相比,钢渣SMA-13沥青混凝土的路面性能较优良,具有广阔的应用前景。     

冷轧钢板表面粗糙度影响因素分析

介绍了影响冷轧钢板表面粗糙度的主要因素和粗糙度测量方法,并以鞍钢冷轧厂2’线五机架连轧机和四辊平整机为研究对象,结合大量实测数据进行了分析,提出了改善钢板表面粗糙度的具体措施,应用到生产中后,效果显著。     

NJTxtr—A Computer Program Based on LASER to Monitor Asphalt Segregation

Abstract: This paper describes the research funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation to develop an automated technology to monitor segregation during construction of hot-mix asphalt concrete pavements. A Laser-based system was used to measure surface texture and to detect segregation. Two segregated test sections and a control test section were tested to evaluate the applicability of Laser texture method to detect and quantify segregation. Laser texture data were gathered from all three sections. Ratios of texture in segregated areas to that in nonsegregated areas were set as the basis for detection of different levels of segregation. By combining the level of segregation and extent of segregation, an AREA index was developed to determine the acceptability of a pavement section. Based on AREA index, pay adjustment factors were proposed to reduce the payment to account for loss of pavement life due to segregation. Further remedial actions were proposed to correct segregated pavement sections with acceptable AREA index. Based on the above concepts, Windows-based computer program NJTxtr was developed to detect and quantify segregation. This computer program uses the Laser-equipment-collected pavement texture data and determines whether the pavement section is acceptable or unacceptable based on the level of segregation within a pavement section, and provides bonus or penalties to the contractor. The paper describes a novel technology using laser and associated software for construction quality control of asphalt concrete pavements. The proposed methodology was applied to detect segregation in an interstate highway section in New Jersey, and this section was repaved based on visual observation and recommendation from this study.     

Case Study of Urban Concrete Pavement Reconstruction on Interstate 10

Many urban concrete pavements in California need to be reconstructed, as they have exceeded their design lives and require frequent maintenance and repair. Information is needed to determine which methodologies for pavement design, materials selection, traffic management, and reconstruction strategies are most suitable to achieve the objectives of California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) long-life pavement rehabilitation strategies (LLPRS) program. To develop construction productivity information for several construction windows, a case study was performed on a Caltrans concrete rehabilitation demonstration project near Los Angeles on Interstate-10, where 20 lane-km was successfully rebuilt using fast setting hydraulic cement concrete (FSHCC) with one weekend closure for 2.8 lane-km and repeated 7- and 10-h nighttime closures for the remaining distance. The concrete delivery and discharge controlled the overall progress. In terms of the number of slabs replaced per hour, the 55-h weekend closure was 54% faster than the average nighttime closure. An excellent traffic management strategy helped to reduce the volume of traffic during the weekend closure and minimize the traffic delay through the construction zone.     

纵筋锈蚀无腹筋混凝土梁抗剪性能细观数值研究

以钢筋混凝土梁为研究对象,考虑钢筋非均匀锈蚀膨胀效应,建立三维钢筋混凝土梁剪切破坏分析的数值分析模型。通过多阶段分析方法(钢筋锈蚀阶段,构件性能退化阶段)探索锈蚀对结构力学行为的影响。钢筋的非均匀锈蚀膨胀以施加非均匀径向位移的方式模拟,获得保护层的破坏状态,并以此“最终状态”作为之后混凝土梁静载试验的“初始条件”输入,进而模拟构件的力学行为。在验证了多阶段数值模型合理性的基础上,分析了纵筋锈蚀、剪跨比对无腹筋混凝土梁抗剪性能的影响规律。结果表明,纵筋锈蚀使混凝土梁产生明显的纵向裂缝。纵筋锈蚀率增大,保护层开裂区域增加,梁的抗剪承载力下降严重。另外,剪跨比对梁的抗剪承载力产生影响,剪跨比对未锈蚀梁的影响明显大于对锈蚀梁的影响程度。最后,基于模拟结果对相关设计规范中的抗剪承载力计算公式进行了讨论,发展建立了考虑锈蚀影响的无腹筋混凝土梁抗剪承载力计算方法。      

Test and analysis of influencing factors on the permeability coefficient of steel slag permeable concrete

The steel slag(SS) permeable concrete was prepared by SS.The influences of the aggregate-cement rate,the aggregate particle size,the water-cement rate,the admixture dosage and other factors on the permeability coefficient of SS permeable concrete were analyzed.The law of influence was also investigated.The study serves as a technological reference for the construction and design of SS permeable concrete.     

Environmental Impact of Steel and Fiber–Reinforced Polymer Reinforced Pavements

The environmental load of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced pavement was compared with that of steel reinforced pavement. Replacing steel rebars with FRP rebars can lead to changes in the concrete mix and pavement structure at the erection stage, to a reduced need for maintenance activities related to steel corrosion, and to different recycling opportunities at the disposal stage. The current study examined all of these variables. The environmental load of FRP reinforced pavement was found to be significantly lower than that of steel reinforced pavement. This results mainly from the fact that FRP reinforced pavement requires less maintenance, its cement content and concrete cover over reinforcement can be reduced, and the reinforcement itself generates a smaller environmental load.     

Performance of FRP-Strengthened RC Beams with Different Concrete Surface Profiles

Performance of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in repair and retrofit of concrete structures depends to a great extent on the substrate condition to which it is bonded. The present research investigated the effect of concrete surface roughness on the bond behavior and general performance of FRP strengthening systems. The study included flexural testing of 26 specimens with two different carbon FRP systems (wet layup and precured) and three different levels of surface roughness. The influence of six different levels of anchorage by means of U-straps was also evaluated. Additionally, 10 bond specimens were tested in double shear for the wet layup FRP system to compare with the results of beam tests and to further investigate the debonding issue. Bond-dependent coefficient was analyzed with respect to different levels of surface roughness and shear span-to-depth ratio, and was then compared with other test results available in the literature. Surface roughness did not appear to have a significant influence on the overall performance of the FRP strengthening system with or without adequate anchorage, and whether failure was by debonding or rupture of FRP.     

Investigation of Heaving at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico

Heaving of pavements and a building foundation became progressively worse on a project at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), N.M. The cause of the heaving was identified as sulfate attack on recycled concrete used as fill and base course below the buildings and pavements. This recycled concrete came from sulfate-resistant airfield Portland concrete pavement that had existed for decades at Holloman AFB without distress. However, severe sulfate exposure conditions, ready availability of water, the more permeable nature of the crushed recycled concrete, less common thaumasite attack, possible soil contamination as a secondary source of alumina, or some combination of these factors allowed sulfate attack to develop in the recycled material even though it had not in the original concrete pavement.     

Evaluation of Four Permeable Pavement Sites in Eastern North Carolina for Runoff Reduction and Water Quality Impacts

Four permeable pavement applications in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain were constructed and monitored to determine their effectiveness of reducing runoff quantity and improving water quality. Sites were either constructed of permeable interlocking concrete pavers (2), porous concrete (1), or concrete grid pavers (1). One site of each pavement type was monitored for runoff reduction for periods ranging from 10 to 26 months. Measured runoff depths from rainfall events over 50?mm were used to determine permeable pavement equivalent curve numbers for the sites, which ranged from 45 to 85. Only the two permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) sites were monitored for water quality. Runoff and exfiltrate samples were intended to be collected, in addition to runoff monitoring, from the Swansboro PICP site. However, no runoff was produced during this study from the Swansboro PICP site for rainfall events up to 88?mm. From exfiltrate concentrations, nutrient retention was estimated to be 3.4 and 0.4?kg/ha/year for total nitrogen and total phosphorus, respectively. For the Goldsboro PICP site, water quality of asphalt runoff and PICP exfiltrate were compared. Analysis of water quality samples from the second site determined that concentrations of total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia, total phosphorus, and zinc were significantly (p ? 0.05) lower in permeable pavement exfiltrate than asphalt runoff.     

Performance of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Asphalt Pavements

This paper describes the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt pavement under monotonic, cyclic, and dynamic loading conditions. The study differed from current practice where geosynthetics are typically used as separators or to improve the bearing capacity of the subgrade. A geogrid layer was installed at the bottom of the asphalt concrete layer, along the asphalt-subgrade interface, to function as tensile reinforcement. The load was applied to the surface of the asphalt concrete layer using a rigid rectangular footing under plane strain conditions. The strains that developed along the geogrid over time and at different load levels were monitored. Two different types of geogrid reinforcements were used, and their restraining effects on the layered system were compared. The study showed that geosynthetic reinforcement increased the stiffness and bearing capacity of the asphalt concrete pavement. Under dynamic loading, the life of the asphalt concrete layer was prolonged in the presence of geosynthetic reinforcement. The stiffness of the geogrid and its interlocking with the asphalt concrete contributed to the restraining effect.