Case Studies of Problems and Solutions of Construction and Maintenance of Concrete Pavements in India
R.K. Jain and Satbir Singh PuwarGreat Northern
AUTHORS: Jain, R.K.; and Puwar, S.S.
ABSTRACT: Today, India stands foremost in constructing the maximum number of concrete pavements in the world. Various types of distress occurred after constructing Cement Concrete Pavements (CCP) as elucidated in the case studies. After a thorough investigation of the causes of distress, the authors have addressed the rectification of the pavements. On National Highway (NH) 20, a longitudinal crack about 0.5m away from the central longitudinal joint had developed in Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC), continuously in 3.6km length. The longitudinal joint in Roller Compacted Concrete Pavement (RCCP) in the lower layer was not co-terminus with that of the PQC. Consequently, the misplaced longitudinal joint in RCCP is reflected in the PQC. The authors propose a new technique to rectify this issue, resulting in a 60% cost saving. In the next 3km length where PQC had not been laid, the misplaced longitudinal joint in RCCP was covered with 25mmx25mmx3mm diameter steel wire mesh, before laying PQC. Similarly, a treatment was applied on the settlement of slabs, and cracks on NH 48. On NH 16, an 8mm wide central longitudinal joint opened to 20-35mm width in 2013 after a few years of construction, due to the laying of subgrade on slushy sea soil. The widened joint was rectified in February 2013 by retrofitting 20mm diameter tor steel tie bars to a new joint width of 12mm. The repaired joint has performed well for the last 10 years. On NH 30, the flexural strength was verified by extracting flexural beams from existing CCP.
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