Project Details
RESEARCHERS
Allen Jones, Nadim Wehbe, Stephanie (Peters) Klay, Shaun Massen
SPONSORS
University Transportation Center Program
KEYWORDS
Before and after studies, Continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRC pavements), Corrosion, Corrosion protection, Cracking, Electron microscopy, Field tests, Laboratory tests
Project description
An evaluation of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) was conducted in order to determine the extent of possible corrosion of CRCP on selected interstates in South Dakota. General observations showed there were sections of severe and localized reinforcement corrosion at some crack locations. Crack mapping, chloride tests profiles, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses, and half-cell potential measurements were conducted in the field. Half-cell potential measurements and crack density were investigated for correlations to corrosion. Results showed there was a significant positive correlation between elevated half-cell potential measurements and crack density. Topically applied corrosion mitigation products were applied at test section CRCPs. Field testing consisted of evaluating the change in half-cell potential of the reinforcement before and after the corrosion mitigation products were applied to sections of an interstate highway. Laboratory testing consisted of casting reinforced concrete specimens that used mix designs similar to the pavements evaluated in the field. The half-cell potentials for each specimen were monitored during the duration of the research project. Four of the laboratory specimens were also tested using chloride ion analysis and SEM techniques.