Concrete Pavement Type &

Selection

Concrete Pavement Types

Jointed plain concrete pavements
(JPCP)
Jointed reinforced concrete pavements
(JRCP)
Continuously reinforced concrete
pavements (CRCP)

JPCP
3.7 to 6.1 m (typ.)
(12 to 20 ft)

3.7 to 6.1 m (typ.)

(12 to 20 ft)

Transverse Joints
(with or without dowels)

PLAN
VIEW

Longitudinal Joint
(with tiebars)
3

JPCP

JRCP
PLAN
VIEW

7.6 to 18.3 m (typ)

(25 to 60 ft)

Welded Wire
Fabric Reinforcing
(0.15 to 0.25%)
Transverse Joints
(with dowels)

Longitudinal Joint
(with tiebars)
5

JRCP

CRCP
PLAN
VIEW

Continuous Longitudinal
Reinforcement
(Deformed Bars)
(0.6 to 0.8%)

Typical Crack Spacing

(0.9 to 2.4 m)
(3 to 8 ft)
Longitudinal Joint
(with tiebars)
7

CRCP

Pavement Characteristics
Pavement
Type

Advantages

Disadvantages

JPCP

Reliable design
Applicable in all
locations

Increased joint cost

Increased joint
maintenance

JRCP

Fewer joints
Less concern about
random cracking

Joint deterioration
Crack deterioration

CRCP

No transverse joints
Smooth riding
Long service life
Low maintenance

High initial cost

Rehab is difficult
9

Considerations in Selection
Traffic levels
Subgrade
Climate
Initial construction and life-cycle costs
Service life
Future maintenance/rehabilitation
Reliability
Contractor experience
Local experience/past performance

10

NCHRP 1-32 Pavement Type

Selection Guidelines
>6.0

Doweled JPCP
Doweled JRCP
CRCP

Undoweled or Doweled JPCP

3.0-6.0 Doweled JRCP
CRCP
1.5- Undoweled or Doweled JPCP
3.0 Doweled JRCP

1.5

Undoweled JPCP

10
15
ESALs, millions

20
11

Design Features
Design elements contributing to
performance, such as dowel bars,
drainage, edge support
Various studies have shown the positive
effect of design features

European experience
LTPP findings

12

European Experience

European researchers identified four

key design features
Nonerodible base course
Positive drainage
Strengthened structure (thick slab,
doweled joints, or CRCP)
Slab stress relieving features (widened
slabs, trapezoidal cross section)

13

LTPP Study of Relative Effect of

Design Features
Initial smoothness
Load transfer
Subdrainage
Base type
Slab widening
Joint spacing
Slab thickness
Slab modulus/strength

Increasing
Effect on
JPCP
Performance

14

LTPP Study of Design and

Construction Factors
Factors Contributing to Performance
Design Factors

Construction Factors

Doweled joints
Erosion-resistant bases
Positive drainage
PCC shoulders
PCC strength

ATB
Multiple base layers
Dowels on baskets
Coarse agg. content

15

LTPP Study of Design and

Construction Factors (contd)

Site conditions adversely affecting

performance

Wet climates

> 39 in annual precipitation

> 140 wet days

Average temperatures > 60 oF

Average number of freeze-thaw cycles >
110
Fine-grained subgrades

16

LTPP Study of Joint Faulting

Use of dowel bars had the greatest
effect on reducing faulting
Use of skewed joints did not show a
significant difference in faulting for
doweled joints
Doweled joints exhibited little faulting
after many years of service

17

Cost Effectiveness
Addition of design features may
increase performance, but also will
increase costs
Must consider COST EFFECTIVENESS of
design features

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