Field Trials of Rapid-Setting Repair Materials

01608528959331121https://doi.org/10.5703/12882843151852013Final reportPDFTech ReportFHWA/IN/JTRP-2013/02SPR-3019Performance testsField testsLaboratory testsDurabilityShrinkageConcrete mixingFreeze thaw durabilityMoisture contentPatchingPavement maintenancePaving materialsRepairingRapid setting repair materialsHighwaysMaintenance and PreservationMaterialsPavementsUnited StatesIndianaPurdue University. Joint Transportation Research ProgramRam, PrashantOlek, JanJain, JitendraJoint Transportation Research Program (Ind.)Indiana. Dept. of TransportationUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe primary objective of the present study was to identify the critical properties (based on the laboratory tests) that could be correlated to the field performance of the rapid setting repair materials. The first phase of the project involved laboratory evaluation of six commercial rapid\u2010setting repair materials (RMs). When tested in the laboratory, all but two exhibited acceptable rates of strength gain and three RMs displayed relatively poor freeze\u2010thaw resistance. All the RMs exhibited acceptable values for free\u2010shrinkage, high resistance to cracking and good bond to substrate concrete. The resistance to chloride ion penetration of one of the RMs was very poor. The second phase of the project involved field installation and performance evaluation of the RMs. It was seen that while, in most cases, the controlled laboratory conditions yielded consistent mixes and acceptable performance, the properties of mixes produced on site were more variable. This variability was the result of somewhat uncontrolled changes in the amount of aggregate extension used, moisture content of the aggregates, amount water added and ambient temperature conditions. Follow\u2010up inspection of the repair patches indicated that all the patches except one underwent premature failures (primarily cracking and edge de\u2010bonding). The ambient temperature during the repairs was around 10\ub0C and this led to an extended set\u2010time for all the materials. The 12\u2010hr compressive strengths values of the specimens from the field\u2010mixes were in some cases lower than the 4\u2010hr compressive strength values of laboratory mixes. Since the repairs were open to traffic after approximately 4 hours after placement, the low early age strengths could be a potential reason for premature failures of some of the patches. In general, several materials were found to be very sensitive to excess water added during mixing resulted in a significant impact on the durability properties \u2013 especially the freeze\u2010thaw resistance. In the field, for most of the materials, the consistency of the mixes varied from batch to batch \u2013 this can be attributed to the variations in the aggregate extension adopted, mix\u2010water added and also the moisture content of the aggregates used. Construction related issues (consolidation and finishing) also played an important role in the performance of the repair patches.88