The development, implementation, and practical performance of the following maintenance operations, with which France has had experience, are presented: maintenance of surface roughness, lateral drainage for old pavement, and restoration of load transfer at joints with connectors. These connectors are steel cylinders in two half-shells linked together by a steel pin sliding in a horizontal plane. The connectors are in holes bored vertically across the joint between slabs. The faces of the half-shells are glued with resin to the concrete on which they bear. This method has been used to reinforce several sections of motorways and airport runways in the past 2 years. Measurements made before treatment revealed joint movements of more than 0.5 mm. The same measurements made following treatment showed that movements had been reduced and limited to 0.05 mm. This second figure is fully satisfactory because it is currently accepted that disorders occur when possible movements are on the order of 0.2 mm and if they exceed 0.7 mm. Numerous laboratory tests have been performed on the connectors, particularly to determine their fatigue characteristics.
Samenvatting