Future Directions and Implementation Strategies for Concrete Pavement Design and Construction

Abstract

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hosted a ``Concrete Pavement Strategic Planning Meeting'' in August 2019 for the purposes of 1) identifying future needs and directions in concrete pavement design, and 2) the development of strategies to increase the implementation of long-life concrete pavement (LLCP) design and construction. The meeting was attended by an Expert Task Group (ETG) of knowledgeable concrete pavement experts and practitioners representing highway agencies, academia, industry partners and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Many of the strengths and limitations of current concrete pavement design procedures were identified and discussed. It was recognized that AASHTOWare PavementME Design and other similarly sophisticated procedures represent a significant technological leap over empirical design procedures with which they compete (and often replace). However, there are concerns about performance model limitations, the cost-effectiveness of local calibration efforts, the emphasis on surface thickness design (often assuming, rather than designing, support conditions), and other issues. The potential service and economic benefits of LLCP were also discussed. The impetus for implementation (and benefits documented) by some agencies were described, as were the impediments to implementation for other agencies. Strategies were developed to help overcome the impediments identified and to facilitate broader use of LLCP. This paper summarizes key points raised on each of these issues and includes recommendations for future directions in concrete pavement design and increased implementation of LLCP.