Field Instrumentation and Performance Monitoring of Rigid Pavements

Abstract

This paper reviews some of the past instrumentation and performance measuring used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop its rigid‐pavement design procedures, and it will consider two areas where future studies could improve our understanding of rigid pavement performance. Results of instrumental model tests and full‐scale traffic tests gave confidence in the Westergaard edge‐loaded analytical model to calculate design stresses. This model has been the backbone of the design concept for more than 40 years, and it continues to serve the Corps well. Also, performance measurements of joints developed the concept of joint load transfer that allowed more economical design of pavements and that also defined standards of joint design. There are still challenges facing the Corps, where instrumentation and performance measurements in the field can help develop better design standards. The actual effects of temperature and moisture gradients on rigid‐pavement performance and bonding in rigid‐pavement overlays remain poor and could be improved by field measurements.