Evaluation of the performance of permeable and semi-permeable unbound granular bases under Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) slabs and alternate load transfer devices for joint repair

759405723Final report.PDFTech ReportAccelerated testsPavement designPavement performancePavement jointsLoad transferConcrete pavementsPortland cement concreteKansasKansas. Dept. of TransportationMelhem, Hani G.Swart, RogerWalker, SandyKansas State UniversityKansas. Dept. of TransportationUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-DesignNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Construction and MaintenanceNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Pavement Management and PerformanceNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-MaterialsUS Transportation CollectionThe objectives of this research are to determine the effect of unbound drainable base types on the performance of PCCP and the efficiency of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) dowels, compared to epoxy coated steel dowels, when retrofitted to re-establish the load transfer in damaged non-doweled joints. The experiment was conducted at the Accelerated Testing Laboratory at Kansas State University, and consisted of constructing two pavements, one with permeable base and another with semi-permeable base, and subjecting them to full-scale accelerated pavement test. Water was periodically spread at the surface of the pavement to simulate the effect of rainfall, induce the accumulation of water in the base and to allow the comparison of the drainage capability and the performance of the two unbound bases. The measured stresses and strains as well as the distresses observed on the two pavements clearly indicated a better performance for the permeable granular base. The semi-permeable base pavement exhibited severe cracking and pumping of fines from the base and subgrade. The joints and cracks in the semi-permeable base pavement were retrofitted with 1.5 inch FRP dowels and one inch steel dowels to re-establish the shear transfer. After an additional 25,000 passes were applied to the repaired pavement it was observed that the conventional steel dowels give a better performance than the FRP dowels