Determining Rapid-Setting Material Suitability for Expedient Pavement Repairs

Abstract

Numerous commercial off-the-shelf products have become available for small surface repairs in portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements, providing short set times, high early strengths, and good durability to withstand heavy loads. These materials have been used successfully for both small repairs in the transportation industry and industrial applications in which the repair was less than 0.03 m3 (1 ft3). Applying these products for larger-volume repairs while still achieving a traffickable surface within 3 h of pavement repair has been a challenge. Experience gained from testing these products for full-depth repairs provides guidance for repair techniques that will expedite opening airfield or highway pavements to traffic and minimize the frequency of maintenance activities. An investigation conducted at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, examined nine rapid-setting materials for repair of PCC pavements through laboratory characterization and full-scale traffic tests. Standard laboratory tests were performed to characterize the material properties over time and to provide a mechanism for assessing the material suitability for field repairs. Repairs with approximate volumes of 0.7 m3 (1.5 yd3) were constructed and evaluated under controlled traffic conditions to determine the ability of the repairs to support 100 simulated passes of an F-15E aircraft within 3 h of repair. Results of traffic tests identified seven repair materials that met these criteria. A laboratory protocol for selection of rapid-setting materials was developed based on the laboratory and full-scale test results. Use of the protocol will help prevent the selection of materials that are unlikely to meet performance expectations.