Design and construction of bonded concrete overlays

This report summarizes studies of the performance of bonded concrete overlays (BCO), develops information on the failure mechanism of BCO, and documents an improved design model for BCO. Three pavements that received BCO placed in Houston, Texas, were closely observed, and the performance of these pavements was studied. The oldest of these pavements was about seven years, and performance information on the older BCO pavements was used not only in the development of a design model but also in suggested specifications that were adopted in the construction of the third BCO. The study of the failure mechanism examined the mechanisms that cause delamination and cracking. This study of the failure mechanism permitted the development of a design procedure through the use of a finite-element program.