Field Performance of Concrete Pavement Joints Protected by Silane Sealer: Case Study

Abstract

Penetrating sealers have been applied to some concrete pavement joints to reduce moisture movement and provide additional durability in Wisconsin since 1999. In these projects, contractors were asked to first pressure-wash all saw slurry from sawed joints and allow them to dry thoroughly, then apply a silane sealer directly to the interior of the sawed joint. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of penetrating sealer in protecting pavement joints through field investigation of three projects in Wisconsin. Site visit surveys along with sample evaluation of field cores were completed. Although there was no visual detection of the presence of sealers in in-service pavements, laboratory tests proved the presence and functionality through contact angle, absorption, and penetration depth. The depth of penetration ranged from 1.46 to 11.75 mm, with an average of 5.14 mm. Penetration was correlated with concrete strength where less penetration was associated with high-performance concrete. When compared with the samples without sealer, more than half of the joints with sealer were still performing better in terms of contact angle and absorption after 8.2 years of service.