Terminal end joints in continuously reinforced concrete pavement (FHWA-OK-91-01)

Abstract

During the past 20 years, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) has constructed over 450 lane miles of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) on its interstate and U.S. highway system. Throughout that time, few changes have been made to the original CRCP design. While the performance of the CRCP has not led to any major design modifications, the terminal end joints have been cause for concern. Designed to restrain the creep of the CRCP, the terminal end joint is located near abutting pavement or bridge approach and leave slabs. The consistent failure of these joints is a nuisance to both the ODOT Maintenance Division and the traveling public. In an effort to provide a terminal end joint which would accommodate the creep of CRCP and eliminate maintenance and safety concerns from failure, a recent CRCP construction project incorporated three experimental terminal end joint designs. The designs included an open joint design, in which a full-depth open joint was established, a sleeper slab design, adding a reinforced sleeper slab beneath an open joint, and a dowel bar design, which uses dowel bars across the width of the roadway. The ODOT Research and Development Division established a monitoring plan to evaluate the performance of the experimental joints. This report will provide project information, detail the experimental joint designs, and layout-the monitoring set-up.