High Performance Concrete Pavements - Concrete - Pavements

Concrete Pavement Design and Construction 6/07/99

TE-30, High Performance Concrete Pavements (HPCP)

Description

The immediate goal of the HPCP Program is to construct selected highway projects to explore the applicability of innovative concrete pavement design and construction concepts in the United States. The long-range goal is improvement of portland cement concrete pavement design, materials, and construction technology and equipment through innovation, research, training, and evaluation of promising pavement technology developments from other countries.

Background

In May 1992, a team of State, industry, and Federal engineers from the U.S. participated in the US Tour of European Concrete Highways (US TECH). Their mission was to review the European concrete pavement experience and obtain information relating to finance, research, design, construction, maintenance, and performance to assist with the development of appropriate actions for enhancing the U.S. highway system. The follow-up visits (October 1992) to Germany and Austria obtained sufficient information to construct an experimental section using German pavement structural design to extend the pavement's service life and the Austrian exposed aggregate surface treatment technique to reduce tire/pavement noise and provide a more durable wearing surface.

In 1993, a 1.6 km (1-mile) test section was constructed on northbound I-75 (Chrysler Freeway) in downtown Detroit, Michigan. The design and construction procedures of the experimental pavement section were similar to those used in Germany and Austria. An open-house was organized during construction to demonstrate the European design and construction technology. Michigan's standard pavement section was used on an adjacent portion of northbound I-75 for comparison purposes. These sections will be monitored for five years and annual evaluation reports are available. The final report is due 12/31/98.

In September 1994, FHWA and industry staff met in Chicago to review High Performance Concrete Pavements. After much discussion, both the FHWA and industry agreed to pursue this effort, concluding that a new approach should be considered. It was suggested that broad, functional or performance criteria be established, rather than a prescription-oriented definition such as HPC-Structures. Each State Highway Agency (SHA) could then choose the criteria considered appropriate for improving the performance of their concrete pavements. The suggested innovation areas for this program included:

Increasing the service life
Decreasing construction time (by 40-50%)
Lowering life cycle costs
Lowering maintenance costs (by 40-50%)
Constructing ultra-smooth ride quality pavements
Incorporating recycled or waste products while maintaining quality
Utilizing innovative construction equipment or procedures

SHAs would utilize this list in formulating HPCP projects instead of prescribed engineering criteria established from the outside which may discourage innovation. Planned projects could then be modified to incorporate some of the innovation areas as listed above.

Current Status

Fifteen projects have been approved for funding under the HPCP program since 1996.

State	Project Description
SD	Construction and evaluation of thin pavement constructed from PCC reinforced with 50mm x 0.64mm polyolefin fibers.
IA	Construction and evaluation of PCC pavement using 60% coarse/ 40% fines, varying mix times, and/or using a new type of concrete mixer.
WI	Construction and evaluation of supplemental sections using alternate dowel bar materials and dowel bar spacings and/or alternate cross sections.
WI	PCC Surface Texturing Issues (noise, safety, ride, and durability)
IL	Construction and evaluation of PCC pavement using fiber composite dowel bars and installing traffic classifiers and associated equipment.
OH	Evaluation of PCC pavement performance using various sealant types or no sealants.
OH	Evaluation of the use of ground granulated blast furnace slag in concrete pavement.
OH	Construction and evaluation of PCC pavement using alternate dowel bar materials and dowel bar spacing.
KS	Evaluation of mix designs with recycled asphalt and two lift construction. Evaluation of corrosion resistant dowels. A total of 12 sections were constructed.
IN	Support for Sixth International Purdue Conference on Concrete Pavement Design and Materials for High Performance, November 1997
IA	Evaluation of Alternate Dowel Bar Materials
NH	Definition of High Performance Concrete Pavements to integrate structural design options with material quality variables
MO	Fiber Reinforced Concrete Pavement
VA	High-durability concrete mixes (low shrinkage, high flexural strength) for JPCP
VA	High-durability concrete mixes (low shrinkage, low permeability, high flexural strength) for CRCP
MN	60-year design life JPCP

Construction of the candidate projects, once approved, are handled in accordance with existing Federal-aid procedures. Evaluation of the projects are conducted by work orders with the various State agencies.

Future Plans

With the maturation of the HPCP program and the emphasis within the Concrete Technology Program on development, delivery and deployment of technology products, it is time to re-evaluate the guideline for TE-30 HPCP. It is recommended that the current end-result type criteria be retained. However, funding priority will be placed on proposals that utilize research or development product(s) from the FHWA and IPRF pavement technology program. Further, an emphasis will be placed upon proposals that include a workshop to showcase the technology demonstrated and produce materials that assist in technology transfer.

Contacts

Mark Swanlund at (202) 366-1323 for pavement information and Suneel Vanikar (202) 366-0120, for general information about the Applied Research and Technology Program