Measurement and Correction of Warp and Curl in Jointed Concrete Pavement

Warp and curl in Jointed Concrete Pavement (JCP) arise from interactions among factors relating to design, materials, construction, and environment. Warp, generally associated with moisture gradients in pavement slabs, typically curves slabs concave upward, while curl, generally associated with temperature gradients, typically curves slabs concave downward during the day and upward at night. The magnitude of curvature can vary by season and time of day but typically grows steadily for years after construction. Warp and curl reduce ride quality and can shorten the service life of the pavement. Although warp and curl are sometimes detected in SDDOT’s annual automated condition surveys, the severity is not fully assessed, in part because of the seasonal and diurnal variation and in part because the International Roughness Index is more sensitive to roughness affecting passenger vehicles than roughness affecting trucks. SDDOT attempts to restore smoothness to JCP road surfaces by diamond grinding but lacks a comprehensive approach. While grinding can significantly reduce roughness, it may not completely eliminate curl and warp or prevent their continued development. In an attempt to achieve best results, SDDOT has tried a few test projects by grinding only during spring and fall, from midnight to 10 am when pavement temperatures are coldest, but these restrictions may not be optimal or even appropriate for every situation and may elevate the cost of the work. To better manage its concrete pavements, SDDOT needs better methods to detect warp and curl, assess their severity, and devise effective, project-specific grinding strategies to reduce their impact on road users.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $174968
• Contract Numbers:

  SD2022-07

• Sponsor Organizations:

  South Dakota Department of Transportation

  700 East Broadway Avenue
  Pierre, SD  United States  57501
• Managing Organizations:

  South Dakota Department of Transportation

  Office of Research
  700 East Broadway Avenue
  Pierre, SD  United States  57501-2586
• Project Managers:

  Border, Michael

• Performing Organizations:

  Nichols Consulting Engineers

  1885 S. Arlington Avenue
  Suite 111
  Reno, NV  United States  89509
• Principal Investigators:

  Pierce, Linda

• Start Date: 20230717
• Expected Completion Date: 20250731
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete; Curling; Durability; High performance concrete; Mix design; Pavement distress; Pavement joints; Performance based specifications; Profilographs
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01918353
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: South Dakota Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: SD2022-07
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 14 2024 2:08PM