Analysis on Effects of Joint Spacing on the Performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements Based on Long-Term Pavement Performance Database
With the day–night temperature and moisture levels changing every day, expansion and shrinkage of concrete slabs is always occurring; therefore, joints provide extra room for concrete slab deformation. The joint spacing in jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) is continuously affecting long-term pa...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/22/8132 |
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| author | Jiaqing Wang Xiaojuan Luo Xin Huang Yao Ye Sihan Ruan |
| author_facet | Jiaqing Wang Xiaojuan Luo Xin Huang Yao Ye Sihan Ruan |
| author_sort | Jiaqing Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the day–night temperature and moisture levels changing every day, expansion and shrinkage of concrete slabs is always occurring; therefore, joints provide extra room for concrete slab deformation. The joint spacing in jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) is continuously affecting long-term pavement behaviors. In this study, data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program were analyzed, and the behaviors of JPCP with different joint spacings were compared to discover the joint spacing effects. Since LTPP has an enormous database, three representative sections located in different states were selected for analysis, where the variable factors such as temperature, moisture, and average annual daily truck traffic (AADTT) were almost the same between the three sections. Three different joint spacings, including 15 ft (4.5 m), 20 ft (6 m), and 25 ft (7.5 m), were compared based on the collected LTPP data. The involved long-term pavement performances, such as average transverse cracking (count), average JPCP faulting, international roughness index (IRI), and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) deflections were compared between JPCP with different joint spacings. Based on the comparative analysis, the JPCP constructed with a 15 ft joint spacing demonstrated the best long-term performance. It showed no transverse cracking, the lowest average JPCP faulting, the best IRI value, and the smallest FWD deflection during the entire in-service period. With proper joint spacing, the cost of road maintenance throughout the life cycle could be significantly reduced due to there being less distress. Therefore, it is recommended to optimize the joint spacing to about 15 ft in JPCP in future applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:11:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-96371809f4d24f899fd9788f3d8abf77 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:11:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-96371809f4d24f899fd9788f3d8abf772023-11-24T09:04:41ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-11-011522813210.3390/ma15228132Analysis on Effects of Joint Spacing on the Performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements Based on Long-Term Pavement Performance DatabaseJiaqing Wang0Xiaojuan Luo1Xin Huang2Yao Ye3Sihan Ruan4College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaKey Laboratory of RC&PC Structures of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, ChinaWith the day–night temperature and moisture levels changing every day, expansion and shrinkage of concrete slabs is always occurring; therefore, joints provide extra room for concrete slab deformation. The joint spacing in jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) is continuously affecting long-term pavement behaviors. In this study, data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program were analyzed, and the behaviors of JPCP with different joint spacings were compared to discover the joint spacing effects. Since LTPP has an enormous database, three representative sections located in different states were selected for analysis, where the variable factors such as temperature, moisture, and average annual daily truck traffic (AADTT) were almost the same between the three sections. Three different joint spacings, including 15 ft (4.5 m), 20 ft (6 m), and 25 ft (7.5 m), were compared based on the collected LTPP data. The involved long-term pavement performances, such as average transverse cracking (count), average JPCP faulting, international roughness index (IRI), and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) deflections were compared between JPCP with different joint spacings. Based on the comparative analysis, the JPCP constructed with a 15 ft joint spacing demonstrated the best long-term performance. It showed no transverse cracking, the lowest average JPCP faulting, the best IRI value, and the smallest FWD deflection during the entire in-service period. With proper joint spacing, the cost of road maintenance throughout the life cycle could be significantly reduced due to there being less distress. Therefore, it is recommended to optimize the joint spacing to about 15 ft in JPCP in future applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/22/8132jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP)long-term pavement performance (LTPP)joint spacingpavement distressesoptimum design |
| spellingShingle | Jiaqing Wang Xiaojuan Luo Xin Huang Yao Ye Sihan Ruan Analysis on Effects of Joint Spacing on the Performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements Based on Long-Term Pavement Performance Database Materials jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) long-term pavement performance (LTPP) joint spacing pavement distresses optimum design |
| title | Analysis on Effects of Joint Spacing on the Performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements Based on Long-Term Pavement Performance Database |
| title_full | Analysis on Effects of Joint Spacing on the Performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements Based on Long-Term Pavement Performance Database |
| title_fullStr | Analysis on Effects of Joint Spacing on the Performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements Based on Long-Term Pavement Performance Database |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis on Effects of Joint Spacing on the Performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements Based on Long-Term Pavement Performance Database |
| title_short | Analysis on Effects of Joint Spacing on the Performance of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements Based on Long-Term Pavement Performance Database |
| title_sort | analysis on effects of joint spacing on the performance of jointed plain concrete pavements based on long term pavement performance database |
| topic | jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) long-term pavement performance (LTPP) joint spacing pavement distresses optimum design |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/22/8132 |
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