01589004

Component

Semi-rigid pavement, pavement with rigid cement treated base layer and flexible asphalt surface, is the primary pavement structure in China. Compared to long-life flexible pavement commonly used in US and Europe, long-life semi-rigid pavements are more suitable in China currently with heavy truck loading. Semi-rigid pavements are relatively low cost but would increase the risk of reflection cracking. Nevertheless, an investigation conducted in 2011 through 2014 preliminarily proved that well designed and constructed semi-rigid pavements can also reach the standards of long-life pavements. Based on nearly 30 years of experiences in freeway constructions in China, the design strategy and new construction techniques of long-life semi-rigid pavements were summarized in this paper. To verify the applicability of the proposed strategy and techniques, two test sections were constructed in 2012; one was located in the Northern China and the other in the Southern China. Intensive tests and inspections were conducted during construction, and field surveys were performed several times after construction. Investigation found that although these two sections have almost the same structure and the same construction techniques, there are huge performance differences between them. The transverse cracking spacing is 47.9 m/1000 m² for North section and 0.75 m/1000 m² for the other. On the bases of comprehensive analysis, the causes of cracking were found and the lessons were learned that: 1) The cracks in North section were caused by frost and had initiated in the compacted subgrade and then propagated to the surface. 2) The proposed design strategy and construction techniques have excellent effectiveness to delay or inhibit the occurrence of reflection cracking, increase structural capacity, and improve the construction uniformity.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFH60 Standing Committee on Flexible Pavement Construction and Rehabilitation. Alternate title: Design and Construction of Long-Life Semi-Rigid Pavement: Investigation from Test Sections in Northern and Southern China.

01584066

16-1913

English

16p

2016

Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; Photos; References; Tables

Flexible pavements; Pavement design; Perpetual pavements; Reflection cracking; Road construction; Transverse cracking

Cement treated bases; Crack spacing; Semi-rigid

China

Construction; Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2016 Paper #16-1913

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 12 2016 4:50PM