• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.4D
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• pp.593-600
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• 2006

Joint opening of jointed concrete pavement is caused by change in temperature and humidity of adjoined slab. The magnitude of joint opening influences on the load-transfer-efficiency and the behavior of sealant. If temperature or humidity decreases, joint opening increases. Generally maximum joint opening of a given joint is predicted by using AASHTO equation. While different magnitudes of joint opening at the individual joints have been observed in a given pavement section, AASHTO equation is limited to predict average joint opening in a given pavement section. Therefore the AASHTO equation may underestimate maximum joint for the half of joint in a given pavement section. Joints showing larger opening than the designed may experience early joint sealant failure, early faulting. Also unexpected spalling may be followed due to invasion of fine aggregate into the joints after sealant pop-off. In this study, the variation of the joint opening in a given pavement section was investigated based on the LTPP SMP data. Factors affecting on the variation are explored. Finally a probabilistic joint opening model is developed. This model can account for the reliability of the magnitude of joint opening so that the designer can select the ratio of underestimated joint opening.