INFLUENCE OF PRECIPITATION, JOINTS, AND SEALING ON PAVEMENT DRAINAGE

A study was conducted to determine the influence of precipitation, joints, and sealing on drainage of concrete pavements. Detailed drainage studies were conducted on four pavement tests sections. Two jointed concrete pavement test sections were located on I-85 near Atlanta, and one continuously reinforced concrete pavement tests section and one reinforced jointed concrete pavement test section were located on I-57 near Champaign, Illinois. Subsurface drainage was installed on the Georgia test pavements as part of the test preparation. Subsurface drainage on the Illinois test pavements had been installed previously as part of a shoulder rehabilitation program. All drainage outflows were measured by specially designed flowmeters capable of continuously monitoring volumes. All precipitation data were obtained on an hourly basis from weather stations near the pavement test sites. Analysis of data indicated that pavement drainage outflow was significantly related to precipitation. It was also found that the edge joint was a major factor contributing to water infiltration into pavement systems. Edge-joint sealing was found to reduce water infiltration in the jointed concrete pavement test sections in both Georgia and Illinois. Edge-joint sealing on the continously reinforced section in Illinois did not significantly reduce surface infiltration. No measurable drainage outflow was observed on the completely sealed pavement test section in Georgia. /Authors/