Concrete pavement rehabilitation procedure using resonant rubblization technology and mechanical–empirical based overlay design

Abstract

Reflective cracking distresses frequently occur on the hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay due to the movements of the underlying Portland cement concrete (PCC). Rubblization was proven in North America to be an effective approach among slab fracturing technologies for solving the premature reflective cracking problem. This paper presents the procedure of applying the rubblization technology in HMA overlay design in a research effort in China to develop the Chinese standard. In the study, the validity of rubblization was analyzed by a trench survey and sieve tests; the layer moduli of the composite subgrade and rubblized concrete slab were determined using FWD and plate bearing tests and a conversion chart; the thickness design for the HMA overlay over the rubblized PCC pavement was conducted using a Chinese version mechanistic–empirical design process; and finally the in-service monitoring over the pavements built using the developed procedure was conducted to test the validity of the procedure.