Surface-deterioration resistance of concrete pavement materials

Abstract

Surface deterioration is found to have considerably reduced the useful service life of many concrete pavements in Singapore. This paper describes the development of a rotating-drum test to evaluate relative surface-deterioration resistance of different concrete pavement materials. Experimental observations indicated that a satisfactory simulation of field-deterioration process was achieved. The emphasis of the test program reported is placed on the critical initial breakdown of pavement surface that seriously affects pavement rideability. The test method was found sensitive to variation in the properties of materials tested. Test results showed that surface deterioration of concrete pavements can be improved by reducing water: cement ratio, by selecting the proper fine aggregate gradation, or by adding steel fibers.