National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

Project description

The usage of CPCD (Concrete Pavement Contraction Design) has been quite limited in Texas since the TxDOT policy of utilizing CRCP was enacted in 2010. That policy was based on rather poor performance of CPCD built on poor slab support and/or without dowels. The new requirement of CoTE of concrete for CRCP will undoubtedly increase the use of CPCD in Texas. The current TxDOT pavement design method for CPCD is based on the method in the AASHTO 93 Pavement Design Guide, which was developed from the findings in the AASHO Road Test. However, the pavement structures evaluated in the AASHO Road Test are quite different from those currently in use in Texas. Accordingly, the distress types and their mechanisms observed in the AASHO Road Test are quite different from those observed in Texas, which implies that the current TxDOT pavement design method for CPCD may not be the most accurate and efficient one to be used in Texas. An improved CPCD design procedure is needed that accurately reflects the pavement behavior and performance in Texas. An improved procedure will result in more realistic and optimized pavement structures. This design procedure could be used for the development of catalog design, if TxDOT deems desirable.