Investigation of length changes and warping in thin prestressed pavements

The present growth of the American highway system presents a staggering problem to the highway designer. The increased and urgent demand for more highways, capable of accommodating traffic loads that are constantly increasing, combined with the increased construction cost of highways, behooves the present day highway designer to envision future highway problems that will arise. These future problems are numerous and complex; however, it seems the primary problem is the selection of a surfacing material that will withstand projected traffic loads with a maximum economy of construction and future maintenance costs. Concrete at the present time is the most satisfactory material available for high-type highway surfacing. The initial cost of a concrete pavement is comparatively high, but a longer life and a lower maintenance cost offset this to some degree. In addition to its structural strength and durability, a concrete pavement has the advantages of a low tractive resistance, smoothness, a minimum of noise, freedom from dust, and good visibility for night driving…. A secondary objective of this investigation shall be to determine changes in one-directional warping and strains along the length of these short sections of narrow pavement slabs under the different intensities of known prestress for daily and seasonal cyclic changes in slab temperatures and moisture --Introduction, pages 1, 10