Field evaluation of rutting in concrete pavements

Abstract

Surface wear by studded tires is a primary cause for rutting in portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements, and may, for the pavement sections with high traffic intensities, become a primary factor controlling the length of pavements maintenance intervals. In the present study, PCC pavement field performance with respect to surface wear is examined based on the transverse surface profile measurements performed yearly during first five years of pavements service life. Continuous transverse surface profile measurements have been performed yearly on a 20 km long rigid pavement section in Moscow region, Russia. Based on the measurements, quantitative parameters describing rut depth evolution are obtained and evaluated; the obtained results are discussed in context of previous research findings reported in the literature. The effect of pavement surface wear on the further rutting accumulation rate is examined. The particular attention is also given to the spatial variability of the measured pavement surface wear characteristics, i.e. rut depth and accumulation rate. The implications of the obtained results on the length of rigid pavement maintenance intervals are discussed.