Through a contract with the Iowa Highway Research Board (TR-697), the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CP Tech Center) at Iowa State University (CP Tech Center) has developed a concise Guide to the Prevention and Restoration of Early Joint Deterioration in Concrete Pavements (December 2016). The guide provides background information about the causes of premature joint deterioration—many of the concepts parallel research related to performance-engineered mixtures. The final chapter on specification guidelines contains live links to supporting Iowa DOT publications. The primary goal is to help Iowa’s concrete pavement engineers understand the causes and prevention of premature joint distress and deterioration when they are designing and building concrete pavements—focusing on deterioration due to deicing/anti-icing salts and joint saturation.
This guide should be useful not only in Iowa but in all Snowbelt states (and parts of Canada)—accompanied by a Tech Transfer Summary (image to right) outlining the most relevant concepts.
For more than a century, portland cement concrete pavements have served the traveling public well. During this time, joint design has undergone many changes in regard to spacing, width, depth, and formation, and materials engineers have gained knowledge about the concrete mixture itself related to improving joint performance. In recent years, however, premature concrete pavement joint distresses have occurred, primarily affecting the mortar in the joints. This premature deterioration has occurred not only in Iowa but in many snowbelt states in conjunction with the use of more aggressive winter maintenance practices such as deicing and anti-icing.
As a result of the research findings, the Iowa Highway Research Board commissioned the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center to write this guide.
In addition, the guide discusses strategies for preventing or limiting such deterioration, which are summarized. This guide also provides summaries of joint maintenance, repair, and restoration strategies, including a decision matrix. Finally, the guide offers guidelines for developing project specifications, with appropriate links to Iowa Department of Transportation Standard Road Plans, Standard Specifications, and Instructional Memoranda.
Brief Contents of the Guide:
Executive Summary
Chapter 1. Brief History of Concrete Pavement Joint Design and Performance in Iowa
Chapter 2. Types and Mechanisms of Joint Deterioration
Chapter 3. Preventing Joint Deterioration in New Pavements
Chapter 4. Maintenance Activities to Reduce Joint Deterioration Risk
Chapter 5. Treatment of Pavements with Joint Deterioration
Chapter 6. Specification Guidelines
References
To download the PDF of the Guide, please go to: http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/research/documents/research-reports/2016_joint_deterioration_in_pvmts_guide.pdf.