Methodology for Identifying Zero-Stress Time for Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements

This study focused on identifying the zero-stress time (TZ) in jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCPs). TZ is the time when the concrete slab is sufficiently strong to deform (thermally expand or contract and thus curl) despite the existing external restraints, including the friction at the base-slab interface. It is critical to be able to identify TZ so that the temperature gradient present in the slab at TZ, known as the built-in temperature gradient, can be characterized. In this study, TZ was established through the instrumentation of 36 concrete slabs in four JPCP construction projects. Strain-temperature behavior in each slab was used to identify TZ. The slabs in each project were paved at different times of the day (morning, noon, early afternoon, and late afternoon) to investigate the effects of the ambient curing conditions on TZ. The degree of hydration at TZ (αTZ) was established for each slab. The field data were used in the development of a model for predicting αTZ as a function of the concrete water-to-cement ratio, unit weight, early-age elastic modulus, and slab thickness.

[1]  Dennis J. Turner,et al.  Computer-based guidelines for concrete pavements : volume III, technical appendices. , 2006 .

[2]  Jin-Hoon Jeong,et al.  Early-Age Curling and Warping Behavior: Insights from a Fully Instrumented Test-Slab System , 2004 .

[3]  Jan Byfors,et al.  Plain concrete at early ages , 1980 .

[4]  Lev Khazanovich,et al.  EFFECTS OF CONSTRUCTION CURLING ON CONCRETE PAVEMENT BEHAVIOR , 2001 .

[5]  Brian M. Phillips,et al.  Quantifying built-in construction gradients and early-age slab deformation caused by environmental loads in a jointed plain concrete pavement , 2006 .

[6]  Ala R. Abbas,et al.  Effect of Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Test Variability on Concrete Pavement Performance as Predicted by Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide , 2007 .

[7]  Anton K. Schindler,et al.  Effect of Temperature on Hydration of Cementitious Materials , 2004 .

[8]  Lev Khazanovich,et al.  Analysis of Concrete Pavement Responses to Temperature and Wheel Loads Measured from Intrumented Slabs , 1998 .

[9]  B F McCullough,et al.  FAST TRACK PAVING: CONCRETE TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND TRAFFIC OPENING CRITERIA FOR BONDED CONCRETE OVERLAYS. VOLUME III: ADDENDUM TO THE HIPERPAV USER'S MANUAL , 1999 .

[10]  Will Hansen,et al.  Concrete Hydration and Mechanical Properties under Nonisothermal Conditions , 2002 .

[11]  R. Bogue,et al.  Calculation of the Compounds in Portland Cement , 1929 .

[12]  Kenneth C. Hover,et al.  Application of Maturity Approach to Setting Times , 1999 .

[13]  P. F. Hansen,et al.  MATURITY COMPUTER FOR CONTROLLED CURING AND HARDENING OF CONCRETE , 1977 .

[14]  Chetana Rao,et al.  User’s Guide: Estimation of Key PCC, Base, Subbase, and Pavement Engineering Properties from Routine Tests and Physical Characteristics , 2012 .

[15]  Han-seung Lee,et al.  Heat of hydration models of cementitious materials , 2012 .

[16]  Anton K. Schindler,et al.  Unified Modeling of Setting and Strength Development , 2010 .

[17]  R W Carlson,et al.  DRYING SHRINKAGE OF CONCRETE AS AFFECTED BY MANY FACTORS , 1938 .

[18]  Jamshid M Armaghani,et al.  TEMPERATURE RESPONSE OF CONCRETE PAVEMENTS , 1987 .

[19]  Donald J Janssen.  MOISTURE IN PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE , 1987 .