Fast-Track Paving: Concrete Temperature Control and Traffic Opening Criteria for Bonded Concrete Overlays, Volume I: Final Report

1999Forster, Stephen W.PDFTech Reporthttps://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/pccp/98167/index.cfmhttps://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/pccp/98167/98167.pdfFHWA-RD-98-167DTFH61-93-C-00106High performance concreteTemperature controlConcrete overlaysMechanistic designUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Infrastructure Research and DevelopmentMcCullough, B. FrankRasmussen, Robert OttoTranstec Group, Inc.United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Infrastructure Research and DevelopmentTurner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterForster, Stephen W.Federal Highway AdministrationIt has been theorized that early-age behavior caused by temperature and moisture changes can significantly affect the performance of a portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP) or bonded concrete overlay (BCO) over its service life. During the first 72 hours following placement, the strength of PCC is relatively low in comparison to the strength that it will eventually achieve. During this early-age period, critical stresses can develop which may lead to pavement damage and ultimately, a loss of performance. This research focuses on modeling early-age behavior of both concrete pavements and BCOs subjected to stresses from moisture and thermal changes. It includes the development of a two-part, versatile, comprehensive set of guidelines that provide direction in the proper selection of design and construction variables to minimize early-age damage to the PCCP and BCO. The first part of these guidelines is qualitative in nature and is based upon the results of this effort, past experience, and engineering judgment. They are intended to identify design and construction inputs that are most likely to lead to good behavior during the early-age period. The second part of the guidelines is comprised of many complex models that have been developed to predict early-age behavior in jointed plain concrete pavements and BCOs. These models are used to verify good behavior from the selection of inputs made using the qualitative guidelines. These models include a PCC temperature development model which accounts for heat generation from the hydrating paste, solar insulation, surface convection, irradiation, and dynamic specific heat and thermal conductivity values. Several mechanical properties are also modeled including thermal coefficient of expansion, drying shrinkage, creep, strength, and modulus of elasticity (using maturity methods). Finally, restraint to free movement caused by slab-base friction and curling are modeled directly. The end product from this research is a comprehensive software package termed HIgh PERformance PAVing (HIPERPAV). This package, which incorporates the complex models developed, can be used as a stand-alone product to verify the overall effect of specific combinations of design, construction, and environmental inputs on early-age behavior of a PCCP and BCO. This report serves as the final report for this project.79