摘要: |
Several years ago, a new technique/process in which 50-100 mm of high-strength, fiber-reinforced concrete is placed over a milled surface of distressed asphalt concrete pavement was introduced, and this process, called ultra-thin whitetopping (UTW), has proven to be a low-cost, effective, and fairly simple solution for repairing bumpy, rutted, potholed pavements. UTW is designed for low-speed traffic areas or areas with a lot of stop-and-go traffic, such as street intersections, bus stops, or toll booths. UTW requires significantly less time to construct than conventional pavement maintenance, and repairs last much longer. Given its success in these limited applications, UTW is now being considered for a range of other applications. A few states have pilot projects using UTW as an alternative to asphalt overlays for interstate roads. To help state and local highway agencies make decisions about using UTW for other applications, the Federal Highway Administration recently launched a joint UTW research effort with the American Concrete Pavement Association that will evaluate critical design factors affecting the performance of UTWs. |