c
 


  
Almost all rigid pavement is made with PCC, thus this   
 
{
 only discusses PCC pavement. Rigid pavements
are differentiated into three major categories by their 6.1 Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement
means of crack control: 6.2 Jointed Reinforced Concrete
Pavement
÷‘ a



  
a

. This is the most common type 6.3 Continuously Reinforced
of rigid pavement. JPCP controls cracks Concrete Pavement
by dividing the pavement up into individual slabs separated by contraction joints.
Slabs are typically one lane wide and between 3.7 m (12 ft.) and 6.1 m (20 ft.)
long. JPCP does not use any reinforcing steel but does use dowel bars and tie
bars.
÷‘ a

 


  a
. As with JPCP, JRCP controls
cracks by dividing the pavement up into individual slabs separated by contraction
joints. However, these slabs are much longer (as long as 15 m (50 ft.)) than JPCP
slabs, so JRCP uses reinforcing steel within each slab to control within-slab
cracking. This pavement type is no longer constructed in the U.S. due to some
long-term performance problems.
÷‘  
 
 


  
. This type of rigid pavement
uses reinforcing steel rather than contraction joints for crack control. Cracks
typically appear ever 1.1 - 2.4 m (3.5 - 8 ft.) are held tightly together by the
underlying reinforcing steel.

Figure 2.38: Rigid Pavement Type Usage in the U.S.

(information on state practices taken from ERES, 1998 and ACPA, 2001)

c 
 

  
 

Jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP, see Figure 2.39) uses contraction joints to control
cracking and does not use any reinforcing steel. Transverse joint spacing is selected such that
temperature and moisture stresses do not produce intermediate cracking between joints. This
typically results in a spacing no longer than about 6.1 m (20 ft.). Dowel bars are typically used
at transverse joints to assist in load transfer. Tie bars are typically used at longitudinal joints.

Figure 2.39: Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP)

 
 Contraction joints, both transverse and longitudinal


 
 Typically between 3.7 m (12 ft.) and 6.1 m (20 ft.). Due to the nature of
concrete, slabs longer than about 6.1 m (20 ft.) will usually crack in the
 middle. Depending upon environment and materials slabs shorter than
this may also crack in the middle.



 None.


! 
  Aggregate interlock and dowel bars. For low-volume roads aggregate
interlock is often adequate. However, high-volume roads generally
require dowel bars in each transverse joint to prevent excessive faulting.

" #
 A majority of U.S. State DOTs build JPCP because of its simplicity and
proven performance.

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Jointed reinforced concrete pavement (JRCP, see Figure 2.40) uses contraction joints and
reinforcing steel to control cracking. Transverse joint spacing is longer than that for JPCP and
typically ranges from about 7.6 m (25 ft.) to 15.2 m (50 ft.). Temperature and moisture stresses
are expected to cause cracking between joints, hence reinforcing steel or a steel mesh is used to
hold these cracks tightly together. Dowel bars are typically used at transverse joints to assist in
load transfer while the reinforcing steel/wire mesh assists in load transfer across cracks.

Figure 2.40: Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavement (JRCP)

 
 Contraction joints as well as reinforcing steel.


 
 Longer than JPCP and up to a maximum of about 15 m (50 ft.). Due to
the nature of concrete, the longer slabs associated with JRCP will crack.



 A minimal amount is included mid-slab to hold cracks tightly together.
 This can be in the form of deformed reinforcing bars or a thick wire mesh.

! 
  Dowel bars and reinforcing steel. Dowel bars assist in load transfer
across transverse joints while reinforcing steel assists in load transfer
across mid-panel cracks.

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During the 1970's and early 1980's, CRCP design thickness was typically about 80 percent of the
thickness of JPCP. However, a substantial number of these thinner pavements developed
distress sooner than anticipated and as a consequence, 

 
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Figure 2.41: Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP)

 
 Reinforcing steel


 
 Not applicable. No transverse contraction joints are used.



 Typically about 0.6 - 0.7 percent by cross-sectional area (ACPA, 2001).


! 
  Reinforcing steel, typically No. 5 or 6 bars, grade 60.

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