摘要: |
Steel dowels for load transfer at joints were replaced with two-component, malleable iron devices in New York State's rigid pavements from 1960 to 1973. Unfortunately, this joint system proved to be less effective, losing load transfer capability much sooner than the steel dowel joint system it had replaced. The performance of bituminous overlays on nine faulted rigid pavements containing load transfer devices over periods of 6 to 9 years is summarized. The study investigated (a) the trend toward fault return and its relation to other variables, (b) the relation between fault return and underlying slab movement, (c) the overall performance of overlays on faulted pavements, and (d) the effects of overlays on temperatures and stresses within the underlying rigid pavements. The results show that return of faulting through the overlay is minimal (60% of the joints had no or little fault return, and with thinner overlays the fault return was faster) and that the use of overlays should be considered only when surface distress is substantial. Although differential vertical joint movement generally increased with time, no exact relation was found between such movement and fault return. Thicker overlays were found to reduce daily and seasonal temperature changes in the underlying rigid pavements, which in turn reduced curling and compressive stresses as well as the potential for fatigue cracking and blowups. |