Guidelines for Joint Depth Determination and Timing of Contraction Joint Sawcutting for JCP Analyzed with Fracture Mechanics

An experiment with the objective of providing guidelines for joint depth determination and timing of contraction joint sawcutting to avert uncontrolled cement concrete pavement cracking has been conducted. Theoretical analysis and laboratory tests were performed to help in understanding and analyzing the field observation. Using two-dimensional elastic fracture mechanics, the influence of several parameters on crack propagation was delineated by a parametric study, involving initial notch ratio, joint spacing, Young's modulus and thermal expansion coefficient of concrete, temperature gradient, and modulus of subgrade reaction. Bimaterials made of rock plus cement mortar and rock plus polymer mortar were applied to the concrete in a field test section, and they were subjected to fracture tests. These tests have shown that fracture mechanics is a powerful tool not only in judging the quality of the jointed cement concrete pavement but also in providing a criterion for crack propagation and delamination. Based on fracture mechanics, a method is proposed to determine the joint depth, sawcut timing, and spacing of the jointed cement concrete pavement. This method has successfully been applied to a test section in Seohaean expressway. This study also summarizes the research results obtained from a field test for jointed plain concrete pavement, which was also carried out on the Seohaean expressway.