Journal Published Online: 10 August 2005
Volume 33, Issue 5

Nondestructive Testing of Concrete Pavements for Characterization of Effective Built-In Curling

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

Differential expansion and contraction between the top and bottom of a concrete slab results in curling. Curling affects slab stresses and deflections and is an important component of any mechanistic-empirical design procedure for concrete pavements. Although some curling is caused by temperature and moisture gradients that fluctuate daily, a significant portion of the curling can be attributed to the combined effects of nonlinear “built-in” temperature gradients, irreversible shrinkage, and creep, which can be represented by an effective built-in temperature difference (EBITD). A procedure for estimating EBITD of in situ slabs using a falling-weight deflectometer and a finite-element program is presented. This procedure was used to estimate EBITD for instrumented slabs at Palmdale and Ukiah, California. Differences in restraints (from adjacent slabs, shoulder, base friction) and variability in concrete material properties resulted in EBITDs ranging from -5°C to greater than -30°C.

Author Information

Rao, S
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL
Roesler, JR
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL
Pages: 8
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: JTE12338
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE12338