This paper mainly focuses on the early-age behavior of concrete pavement systems under varying temperature and moisture gradients upon construction. In an effort to better understand the early-age behavior of the jointed plain concrete pavements under varying environmental conditions, a field study has been conducted on instrumented portland cement concrete slabs in Platteville, Wisconsin. The study involves on-site measurements, extensive laboratory testing, and analyses of the concrete pavement systems under temperature and moisture profiles using finite element methodology-based analytical tools. The aim of the study is to summarize the laboratory test results for concrete samples and the analysis of the early-age slab deflection data captured with linear variable displacement transducers (LVDTs). In the analytical modeling of the slabs, the ISLAB2000 finite element model has been used. Based on the large number of comprehensive finite element analyses, a good match has been observed with the analytical solutions and field measurements, thus capturing the early-age behavior of concrete pavement systems under temperature and moisture profiles. Such important findings are presented and discussed in the paper in relation to the early behavior of concrete pavement systems.
Abstract