Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Concrete Mixes in Hawaii: Determination and Implications for Concrete Pavement Design

Abstract

The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of portland cement concrete (PCC) is a significant factor affecting the performance of concrete pavements. It is also required as a direct input in the mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG). The primary objective of this study was to determine CTE values of PCC mixes used in Hawaiian pavements. A secondary objective was to study the effect of curing time on the CTE. To achieve these objectives, 45 concrete specimens were prepared on-site at three Hawaiian concrete companies using local basaltic aggregates. For each site, 15 replicate test specimens (five sets of three) were cured in a 100% humidity room for 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days before determining their CTEs following AASHTO T 336. It was found that CTE values vary significantly with curing time. It was also observed that the CTEs at 28 days computed in this study, ranging from