ABSTRACT
Transitions between concrete pavements and bridges and other structures and CRCP reinforcement require special designs and detailing. Details depend on whether movement is to be restrained or accommodated. If movement is to be restrained, enough reinforcement and anchorage must be provided to resist the forces that develop. If movement is to be allowed, the joints must be detailed and maintained so that they open and close freely.
Transitions are necessary wherever concrete pavements abut bridges or asphalt pavements. Expansion and contraction of concrete pavements can impose substantial forces unless proper isolation is provided. Jointed pavements (JPCP and JRCP) require relatively simple transition
details. CRCP requires specialized details because it is necessary to anchor the pavement ends to allow the proper crack pattern to develop. Some special transition details have also been developed for overlays, and these are discussed in Chapter 18 along with the relevant overlay types. Burke (2004a,b) provides a detailed discussion of the importance of pro-
viding expansion joints between jointed concrete pavements and bridges. A pavement growth/pressure phenomenon is defined – over time, incompressible materials infiltrate into joints as they expand and contract, and make it impossible for the joints to close completely. Therefore, the pavement attempts to increase in length. This can lead to damage to bridge abutments, or to blowups of the concrete pavement. This damage may occur 10-20 years after pavement construction. Three bridge case studies are discussed in detail. In each case, the expand-
ing pavement closed up expansion joints and intermediate movement joints within the bridge superstructure. “For a 24 ft× 9 in 82 m× 230 mm pavement, such pressures could result in a total longitudinal force of about 1300 ton (1200 tonne) or more than 25 times the forces usually assumed in the design of bridge abutments” (Burke 2004a: 57).
