Evaluation of structural responses of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) using falling weight deflectometer

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pangil Choi ◽  
Dong-Ho Kim ◽  
Bong-Hak Lee ◽  
Moon C. Won

The objective of this study is to suggest reasonable structural evaluation method of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) using falling weight deflectometer (FWD). The effects of transverse crack spacing and temperature conditions were investigated in CRCP sections with various slab thicknesses and pavement ages. A total of 20 CRCP sections were selected throughout Texas and structural responses were evaluated from 2006 to 2013 for 8 testing years. Test results show that transverse crack spacing has little effect on deflection and load transfer efficiency (LTE). The LTE values were maintained at above 90%, regardless of crack spacing, temperature condition or pavement age. Temperature variations had small effects on deflections at cracks and the mid-slab, but almost no effects on LTE. Maximum deflections and back-calculated k-values appear to be better indicators of structural condition of CRCP than LTE. Load transfer efficiency is not the best indicator of structural condition of transverse cracks in CRCP. Deficiencies in slab support are the primary cause of full-depth distresses in Texas, and back-calculated k-values, which combine both a maximum deflection and the shape of deflection bowl from FWD testing, may be a better indicator of the structural condition of CRCP.

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-274
Author(s):  
L. S. Salles ◽  
J. T. Balbo

ABSTRACT Four continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) sections were built at the University of São Paulo campus in order to analyze the pavement performance in a tropical environment. The sections short length coupled with particular project aspects made the experimental CRCP cracking be different from the traditional CRCP one. After three years of construction, a series of nondestructive testing were performed - Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) loadings - to verify and to parameterize the pavement structural condition based on two main properties: the elasticity modulus of concrete (E) and the modulus of subgrade reaction (k). These properties estimation was obtained through the matching process between real and EverFE simulated basins with the load at the slab center, between two consecutive cracks. The backcalculation results show that the lack of anchorage at the sections end decreases the E and k values and that the longitudinal reinforcement percentage provides additional stiffness to the pavement. Additionally, FWD loadings tangential to the cracks allowed the load transfer efficiency (LTE) estimation determination across cracks. The LTE resulted in values above 90 % for all cracks.


Author(s):  
Mustaque Hossain ◽  
John B. Wojakowski

Six jointed reinforced concrete pavement and one jointed plain concrete pavement test sections on US-69 in Miami County, Kansas, constructed in 1979 have been surveyed annually for faulting for the past 9 years. Falling weight deflectometer tests were conducted in 1995 to assess the load transfer efficiency of the joints. The results show that, in general, as the original concrete density increases due to improved consolidation, the rate of increase of the joint fault depth decreases at doweled joints at a given pavement age. The occurrence of joint faulting is much more severe when load transfer devices are not present; this was observed even for the pavement section built on a nonerodible subbase. Improved consolidation sometimes appeared to help improve load transfer, resulting in a lower rate of faulting. Thus, the mandatory density requirement of 98 percent rodded unit weight, which has been in effect since 1980, has undoubtedly led to better joint performance for concrete pavements in Kansas.


2013 ◽  
Vol 690-693 ◽  
pp. 1817-1820
Author(s):  
Quan Man Zhao ◽  
Hong Liang Zhang ◽  
Yan Hui Wang

The longterm field investigations in the US showed that punchouts were the most important distress in continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) and often developed in the cluster cracking with the crack spacing of 0.3m-0.6m. But, it was not sure whether punchouts were the most important distress in CRCP in China, so this paper carried out field investigations on several CRC pavements in China. Results showed that punchouts were the most serious distress and often occurred in cluster crack regions. Furthermore, this paper analyzed the transverse crack spacing distribution. Results showed that the transverse cracks spacing distribution followed Weibull’s distribution.


Author(s):  
Yating Zhang ◽  
Jeffery Roesler

Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing is effective in evaluating the structural response of in-situ concrete pavements through the backcalculated pavement layer parameters. Specifically, the FWD data can be used to backcalculate the foundation layer and concrete stiffness or the soil layer stiffness, effective slab thickness, and slab–base interface condition. Since continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) has closely spaced transverse cracks, the traditional backcalculation assumption of an infinite slab can lead to significant errors in the backcalculated results. In this paper, solutions for backcalculated modulus of subgrade reaction ( k-value), elastic modulus of concrete ( E), and effective thickness ( heff) for different crack spacing have been derived from 2-D finite element analysis. AASHTO sensor configuration (0, 12, 24, 36 in.) was recommended for CRCP with crack spacing ≥6 ft, and an alternative solution for crack spacing of 4 and 5 ft was proposed with AREA24. Crack load transfer efficiency (LTE) across transverse cracks had limited impact on backcalculated results if the LTE was >80%. As expected, the backcalulation values were sensitive to the load plate’s longitudinal position relative to the transverse crack especially for crack spacings smaller than 8 ft. The proposed backcalculation method was applied to a field CRCP test section with different crack spacing, reinforcement ratio, and base types.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Pawan Deep ◽  
Mathias B. Andersen ◽  
Nick Thom ◽  
Davide Lo Presti

The jointed rigid pavement is currently evaluated by the Falling weight deflectometer which is rather slow for the testing of the jointed pavements. Continuous nondestructive evaluation of rigid pavements with a rolling wheel deflectometer can be used to measure the load transfer and is investigated. Load transfer is an important indicator of the rigid pavement’s condition and this is the primary factor which is studied. Continuous data from experimental measurements across a joint allows for the determination of not only the load transfer efficiency provided parameters characterizing the pavement is known. A three-dimensional semi-analytical model was implemented for simulating the pavement response near a joint and used for interpretation and verification of the experimental data. Results show that this development is promising for the use of a rolling wheel deflectometer for rapid evaluation of joints.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 845-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Mackiewicz

The suitable load transfer between adjacent concrete slabs in transverse joint is influenced by various parameters. In this paper, the influence of different diameters and spacing of dowel bars on the slab interaction was considered. Calculations were carried out with application of 3D finite element method. Verification of the model was performed with the concrete pavement in Poland. Results of these calculations were compared with falling weight deflectometer studies. Calculations of stress concentration around dowel bars for different conditions and parameters enabled to determine a relationship between load transfer efficiency (LTE) and vertical compressive stresses in the concrete slab. It was found that application of dowels with small diameters can promote damages in the concrete slab because of concentration of vertical compressive stresses under the dowel bar. The found relationship enables to determine stresses in concrete under the dowel according to its diameter and LTE.


Author(s):  
Yoon-Ho Cho ◽  
Terry Dossey ◽  
B. Frank Mccullough

The effect of coarse aggregate on pavement performance has been attributed to the volume of aggregate used in pavement construction. The different patterns of crack development for limestone (LS) and siliceous river gravel (SRG) are a typical example of aggregate-induced variable performance in continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP). An attempt was made to find a reasonable solution for pavements with SRG. As a way to solve the performance problem observed from the SRG pavement, a blended aggregates mixture was suggested. Laboratory and field tests were performed to check the feasibility of their application in pavements. From the laboratory test, a 50:50 blending ratio was suggested after considering the effect on tensile strength and thermal coefficient of expansion. Field test sections were also constructed to verify previous performance observations for the two aggregates and to provide performance data for new variables such as blended aggregates and special curing methods. Unexpectedly, the blended mixture did not improve the performance of SRG pavement; rather it experienced worse cracking than SRG alone. A controlled experiment with additional field test sections is needed to verify or disprove this finding. The only definitive finding was that selection of aggregate in the concrete pavement is a vital consideration for the design of the pavement. The CRCP8 analytical program reasonably predicted crack spacing for both SRG and LS pavements, predicting mean crack spacing of 0.99 m (3.25 ft) for SRG and 1.98 m (6.41 ft) for the limestone. These values are somewhat below the actual spacing observed at 100 days. Data collected after the first winter period will be required to calibrate the program.


2022 ◽  
Vol 319 ◽  
pp. 125991
Author(s):  
Xi Jiang ◽  
Jay Gabrielson ◽  
Baoshan Huang ◽  
Yun Bai ◽  
Pawel Polaczyk ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7458
Author(s):  
Yating Zhang ◽  
Zhiyi Huang

Continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) is a pavement structure with a high performance and long service life. However, the corrosion of the longitudinal steel can result in a poor bond relationship between the steel and the concrete, affecting the load transfer efficiency between the adjacent panels and being responsible for the development of CRCP distresses. Basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) is corrosion-resistant and has the potential to be used in CRCP. In this paper, the layout of a CRCP test section with BFRP bars constructed on G330 National Road in Zhejiang Province, China, is presented. An analytical model is proposed to predict the crack behavior of CRCP with BFRP reinforcement, with the predicted results are compared to field-measured ones. A sensitivity analysis of the BFRP design parameters on the crack spacing and crack width is conducted as well. The results show that the mean values for field-measured crack spacing and crack width are 4.85 m and 1.30 mm, respectively, which are higher than the results for traditional CRCP with steel due to the lower elastic modulus of BFRP. The analytical predictions agree reasonably well with the crack survey results. The higher the elastic modulus of BFRP, the reinforcement content (with both BFRP spacing and diameter related), and the bond stiffness coefficient between the BFRP and concrete, the less the crack spacing and crack width will be. Given the same or similar reinforcement content, a lower diameter with a smaller spacing is recommended because of its contribution to a smaller crack spacing and width.


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