Abrasion Resistance of Early-Opening-to-Traffic Portland Cement Concrete Pavements

Abstract

The research investigation presented herein is intended to study the abrasion resistance early-opening-to-traffic portland cement concrete pavements also known as fast-track concrete. The selected matrices are examined using two categories of opening-to-traffic times (6 and 8 h). Type III portland cement and three different cement factors with and without an accelerating admixture were used. The trial mixtures are examined for plastic properties (slump, air content, bleeding, setting times, and adiabatic temperature), bulk characteristics (demolded unit weight and compressive strength), and resistance to abrasion. Depth of wear and rate of deterioration as functions of matrix proportions, opening-time categories, and testing age (up to 20 min or 0.12 in., whichever is reached first) are determined. The influence of other parameters such as cement factor, curing age, and accelerating admixture on resistance to wear of the selected matrices are discussed. Other properties, namely rate of abrasion, relative gain of abrasion, coefficient of variation, and abrasion index, are examined. Finally, the relationship between the abrasion resistance (depth of wear) and bulk characteristic (compressive strength) at both opening and maturity ages are investigated. The findings of this investigation shall benefit highway agencies and municipalities by providing abrasion resistance data on a wide range of matrix constituents and proportions that may be used for fast-track concrete construction.