Structural evaluation of rigid pavement sections

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the structural performance of experimental rigid pavements constructed in California. The experimental project consists of seven Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavement sections with various layer structures. Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) was utilized to conduct deflection testing for backcalculation of layer moduli and subgrade reaction moduli (K-value), evaluation of joint load transfer capacity, and detection of voids under the slabs. In addition, pavement distress condition was also evaluated as it relates to the integrity of pavement structure. The major findings in this study indicate that thick slab and lean concrete base lower the pavement deflection response and prevent the formation of voids under the slab corners, but lean concrete base has no significant effect on the K-values. CRCP provides a smooth ride but large amount of transverse cracks may affect its modulus.