Evaluation of Parameters Significantly Influencing the Performance of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements : Technical Paper

This paper reports a portion of findings obtained from a continuing study of CRC (continuously reinforced concrete) pavements in Indiana. Results of an earlier statewide condition survey showed that subbase type, methods of fabrication and placement of steel reinforcement, concrete slump and traffic were significant contributors to CRC pavement performance. It was indicated that method of paving (slipformed vs side-formed) had little effect on pavement performance, while depressed steel resulted in better pavement condition than steel pre-set on chairs. Based on these results, a field investigation of CRC pavements was conducted. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, by means of physical tests, parameters that were found to contribute significantly to CRCP (continuously reinforced concrete pavement) performance in the condition survey. The results reported in this paper were obtained from a comparative statistical analysis of properties of failed locations with good locations within test sections showing poor performance. The analysis was based on data obtained from 15 CRCP test sections showing significant distress as indicated by a breakup or a patch. Test locations in good condition had subbases with higher stability as evaluated by a static penetrometer test. Pavement failures were observed to be correlated with relatively low bulk density and modulus of elasticity of concrete. No significant difference In splitting tensile strength of concrete was Indicated between good and failed locations. Relative to uniformity of concrete properties above and below the steel reinforcement, no significant difference was shown In the analysis. Higher pavement deflections, wider crack widths and non-uniform crack patterns were associated with failed pavement condition.