Portland Cement Concrete Pavements Research

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Concrete Materials and Mix Design for Assuring Durable Pavements

by Stephen W. Forster, Ph.D., P.G.
Federal Highway Administration

From the Sixth International Purdue Conference on Concrete Pavement

Abstract
Introduction
Influence of Materials Design
Concrete's Role in Pavement Structural Design/Performance
Influence of the Environment
Influence of Construction
Summary
Table 1. The Influence of Materials & Mix Design on Concrete
Table 2. Influence of Other Factors on PCC/Pavement Properties
References

Abstract

Concrete can certainly be used to construct durable, long-lasting pavements; every day we ride over proof of this premise throughout this country and the world. There are also, however, examples of concrete pavements that have had unexpectedly poor performance. In these latter instances, usually one or more aspects of the materials and mix design, the environment, the pavement design and the construction process were not sufficiently considered for the requirements placed on the concrete. The objective of this paper is to review those factors that influence the long term performance of concrete pavements, particularly the demands placed on the concrete as a material, in order to show that with due consideration of these factors, good durability is achievable with certainty. The factors that are considered herein may be placed in the four categories noted: concrete materials and mix design; pavement structural design; the environment; and the construction process. Under materials and mix design, the characteristics of all the components, and their interaction, must be considered. The pavement structural design requires a certain concrete strength, as well as other characteristics. Environmental factors, both at the time of paving, and over the long-term, can greatly influence performance. Finally, construction related factors, such as control of uniformity of materials and mix, and on-time concrete delivery must all be considered to attain an initially distress-free pavement. Each of the categories is discussed, as it may influence the design and construction of durable, long lasting concrete pavements.

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