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FHWA > Engineering > Pavements > Concrete > National Concrete Pavement Research Projects |
Concrete Pavement Design and Construction 6/07/99TE-30, High Performance Concrete Pavements (HPCP)DescriptionThe 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. BackgroundIn 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:
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 StatusFifteen projects have been approved for funding under the HPCP program since 1996.
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 PlansWith 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. ContactsMark Swanlund at (202) 366-1323 for pavement information and Suneel Vanikar (202) 366-0120, for general information about the Applied Research and Technology Program |
EventsMore InformationContactMark Swanlund |
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This page last modified on 05/31/06 |