Performance Study of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Joint Sealants

Abstract

The objective of this research project is to determine the service lives of three different types of joint sealants—polyvinylchloride (PVC)-coal tar, rubberized asphalt, and silicone—and to recommend maintenance strategies to improve the performance of concrete pavements in Utah. The silicone material has been performing well for over 10 years. The PVC-coal tar material had failed in the test sections that are an average of 15 years old, and the rubberized asphalt material has aged beyond its expected service life in the test sections over 20 years old. Survival curves of the three sealants were developed with respect to their ages, and their performance correlated well with their ages. The conical spalling at the bottom of the joints increased after 10 years of service. Based on the limited field data, it is recommended that Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) should consider the use of a narrower joint width of 6 mm instead of the current 9-mm design, use silicone or rubberized asphalt material, and implement a maintenance plan with a 10-year cycle for recutting and resealing of the joints to 9 × 9 mm.