Cross Tensioned Concrete Pavement

Abstract

The deterioration of Portland cement concrete pavement is most often due to intrusion of water into the pavement system as well as due to inferior performance of the transverse joints. The infiltration of surface runoff most commonly happens at the transverse joints and cracks. This problem could be solved by eliminating transverse joints and constricting the cracking capability of the pavement by applying an external force to the pavement in the form of posttensioning. The posttension stands are arranged diagonally resulting in cross tensioned concrete pavement (CTCP). The advancement of posttensioning products and procedures over the last 20 years has made this a fairly simple and inexpensive procedure. A reduction in slab thickness and elimination of the need for transverse joints can offset the cost of the posttensioning hardware and process. However, many new design challenges have arisen as a result of the skewing of the posttension strands in CTCP. The edge stresses of CTCP are addressed in this paper. Potential problem areas in the vicinity of the edge were investigated using the finite element method and possible solutions are discussed.