National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

Project description

This research is focused on the development of recommendations and guidance on the use of thin bonded concrete overlay of asphalt (BCOA) as a rehabilitation alternative for California based on the adoption of, and improvements to, the technology developed in other US states. The main tasks of this research include: (1) laboratory testing of four rapid-strength concrete mixes and a number of concrete-asphalt interfaces, (2) evaluation of the construction of a full-scale test track, (3) monitoring of the structural and hygrothermal responses of thin BCOA sections to the ambient environment, (4) accelerated pavement testing with the Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) on eleven thin BCOA sections, (5) characterization of CTE variability under different humidity conditions, (6) understanding of tensile creep in concrete slabs, (7) characterization of micro-cracking in different high-early strength concrete mixes. Based on this testing and analysis, it was possible to obtain a better understanding of the mechanics of the structure of thin BCOA and of the roles of the different factors that determine thin BCOA performance.