Forensic Investigation of AC and PCC Pavements with Extended Service Life : Volume 3 : Petrographic Examination of Blast Furnace Slag Aggregate Concrete Cores taken from PCC Pavements in Cuyahoga County , Ohio

Technical report.PDFTech ReportFHWA/OH-2010/004CState Job No. 134280Pavement performanceRigid pavementsFlexible pavementsService lifeDesignTestingOhioOhio Research Institute for Transportation and the EnvironmentLankard, DavidOhio Research Institute for Transportation and the EnvironmentOhio. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Research and DevelopmentUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-MaterialsNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Pavement Management and PerformanceNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-DesignUS Transportation CollectionThe purpose of this research was to identify flexible and rigid pavements in Ohio with average and above averageperformance, and determine reasons for these differences in performance. The identification and implementation offactors linked to extended service life will improve performance statewide. FWD and ride quality profiles weremeasured to evaluate project uniformity, and material samples were obtained from a selected location on each projectand tested in the laboratory to determine material properties. Volume 1 of the report includes: the project selectionprocess, FWD and ride quality data, laboratory results of testing on base, subgrade and asphalt concrete pavementsamples, and projected services lives using FWD data and the MEPDG. Volume 2 provides the results of laboratorytests and petrographic examinations on the Portland cement concrete cores. Volume 3 contains petrographic analysisof PCC pavement specimens in Cuyahoga County, Ohio containing Blast Furnace Slag Aggregate.Flexible and rigid pavements in Ohio receiving no structural maintenance show an average condition rating of 68after 20 and 30 years of service, respectively. This performance, coupled with no structural distress being observed onthe pavements selected for study indicates pavement design procedures used in Ohio are meeting expectations. Amongthe items recommended to improve pavement performance include: 1) maintaining subgrade uniformity to minimizelocalized failures, 2) reducing amounts of Portland cement and using larger aggregate in 451 and 452 concrete, whilecontinuing to test aggregate for D-cracking susceptibility, 3) increasing emphasis on ensuring that dowel bars maintainproper alignment during placement of PC concrete, and 4) continuing the use of performance grading and polymerswhen designing AC mixes on heavily traveled pavements. Other observations regarding the data used to reach theseconclusions include: keeping the PMIS database current, retaining construction records for at least the design life of thepavements, being aware that the effect of surface cracks on flexible pavement performance depends upon whether thecracks are top-down or bottom-up, and the PMIS and straight-line diagrams should be consistent in identifying projectlimits, project numbers and paving materials.Volume 3 of the report contains petrographic analysis of PCC pavement specimens in Cuyahoga County, Ohiocontaining Blast Furnace Slag Aggregate