Analysis by High-Speed Profile of Jointed Concrete Pavement Slab Curvatures

Abstract

A high-speed pavement profile analysis method that detects curvature present in the wheelpaths of jointed concrete pavement slabs is presented. This technique can be used to analyze slab curvatures present in pavements and caused by curling and warping forces. The FHWA Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program has obtained high-speed elevation profiles for the jointed concrete pavements in the study. This profile analysis method reads an LTPP profile and detects imperfections in the road curvature profile, which typically are joints and cracks. It then analyzes the slab regions (intact slab segments) between these numerical imperfections for the presence of curvature. The result of a profile analysis is a road profile index—the curvature index—which represents the average slab curvature present along the wheelpaths for the profile. This profile analysis method was applied to more than 1,100 LTPP GPS3 profiles. The range of the slab curvatures encountered is described, and some key factors related to apparent locked-in curvatures (related to warping and construction) are discussed. The amount of locked-in curvature in slabs significantly affects slab behavior and long-term pavement performance. Curvature information should be available to pavement rehabilitation engineers making fix type and funding decisions for pavements. This new analysis method could be implemented rapidly in routine pavement profile analysis and pavement management systems.