Long-Term Performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement with Rapid Strength Concrete On California Highways

Abstract

Rapid Strength Concrete (RSC) slabs on six California jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) highway projects were surveyed. These projects had been previously surveyed in 2008 at 3-years of age and by 2018 had reached a service life of 13-years. Of the initial 5430 slabs examined in 2008, a total of 1493 RSC slabs, located on 12 traffic lanes, were observed and distress types recorded again in 2018. These slabs included both CTS and 4x4 RSC located in both inner and outer lanes. Only a small percentage (1.4%) of the 5,430 RSC slabs exhibited any distress in 2008 after 3-years' service and the increases were small over the next 10 years of service with the exception of transverse fatigue cracks. The transverse (top down fatigue) type of cracking had the highest percentage and largest increase of any distress type. The heavy truck outside lanes exhibited 21% transversely cracked RSC slabs and the inner passing lanes 3%. The outer truck lanes carried over 3 times more trucks than inner lanes. The RSC slabs were mostly 200-223 mm thick and thus susceptible to fatigue damage. The overall performance of the RSC slabs (both CTS and 4x4 RSC materials) were similar and considered to be outstanding over 13 years with a large majority expected to survive many more years.