National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

Project description

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) constructs portland cement concrete pavements (PCCP) for new highway expansions and/or for replacement of existing highway pavement using slip-form paving operations. Typical concrete pavement construction in Kansas requires reinforcing steel across the joints. Correct placement of reinforcing steel in the PCCP is critical for good performance and long life of highways. However, once immersed in the concrete paste, steel placement is difficult to measure with nondestructive methods. Sometimes the steel bars are inserted (placed) using automated equipment. If the insertion process isn’t accurate, such that the steel bars are mislocated, costly remedial action can be required.