ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The influence of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) on cracking of jointed concrete pavements is investigated in this study, based on crack survey data and laboratory evaluation of samples from approximately one hundred sections of in-service highway pavements throughout the state of California. The CTE values found in the experiment ranges from 4.8 to 6.7 microstrain/◦F. The reason for the experiment resides in the lack of empirical information that confirms the effect of CTE on cracking. Adequate account of this factor is necessary for calibration and refinements of mechanistic-empirical pavement performance models. The sections’ cracking data was obtained from the Caltrans pavement management database, and consisted of first stage cracking, third stage cracking, and corner cracking. Condition data for sections up to 46 years old was included. Taking into account the slabs on all traffic lanes of all sections and the time histories of cracking data, the number of cases investigated in the study exceeded 3,400. It was found that CTE does affect crack development on jointed concrete pavements. Despite the difficulties of subjective cracking data, the pavements with CTE higher than 5.7 microstrain/◦F showed more cracking that those with CTE lower than this value.
