Forensic Investigation of Distresses Found in Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements

Abstract

Jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) is commonly used in roadway construction as an economical choice when distributed steel reinforcement is not necessary. The performance of JPCP depends on the joint load transfer efficiency and design parameters such as slab thickness, concrete strength, and dowel/joint spacing. This paper investigates two JPCP sections, State Route (SR)-22 in good condition and Interstate Highway (I)-75 in poor condition. The distress in the I-75 section is mainly depicted by longitudinal (or linear) cracks running the full depth through the concrete slabs. To understand the cause of distress, a forensic investigation was conducted jointly by a research team and the Georgia Department of Transportation. As part of the investigation, both nondestructive and destructive tests were performed using a falling weight deflectometer ground penetration radar, corings, and laboratory tests including petrographic analysis. Three sources of distress were considered in this study: environmental, traffic load, and material-related cracking mechanisms. A finite element analysis has been conducted in addition to field and laboratory investigations. The results suggest that combined factors, including mainly traffic loading and thermal expansion, were the potential cause of the longitudinal cracking with the magnitude and uniformity of the observed surface distress.