Choosing the right technique for economical pavement repair John Roberts Executive Director International Grooving & Grinding Association West Coxsackie, New York oad preservation and maintenance options today have grown to involve different levels of repair, all with the same anticipated outcome of extending the life of the existing pavement. Full and partial depth concrete pavement repairs are two tried-and-true repair options that are used to address areas on a roadway where deteriorated concrete is impacting ride quality or the structural capability of a pavement. Where these types of repairs are performed—full or partial depth—depends upon the extent and the location of the damage.
Full Depth Repair Full depth repair involves removing a portion of the existing slab and replacing it with new concrete, returning the deteriorated areas to their original state. Performing full depth repairs can improve pavement rideability and structural integrity while extending pavement service life. A full depth repair is normally performed for the following types of distresses: blowups or corner breaks,
Deteriorated concrete is removed from a road using a carbide mill.
Nighttime full depth repair on US 52 Rivers Ave. D-cracking, alkali-silica reactivity (ASR), full depth joint deterioration, random transverse cracking, random longitudinal cracking, and punchouts. Whether or not a full depth repair is needed depends on the severity and location of the distress. Full depth repairs should last as long as the adjacent concrete slabs, as long as proper design and construction procedures are followed. Many full depth repairs are made during preservation and restoration projects that include additional measures such as slab stabilization, dowel bar retrofit, diamond grinding and joint resealing. In using these procedures, the surface where the repairs took place is exposed for the life of the repair making it easier to monitor performance. Covering the distress
with an overlay does not correct the cause of the problem and oftentimes the distress manifests itself again, usually as a larger, more expensive problem. This also allows the owner to maintain the existing grade so features such as curbs, gutters, bridge clearances, approach slabs and roadside appurtenances do not need adjustment.
Case Study: Full Depth Repairs on U.S. Route 52, Charleston, SC U.S. Route 52, also known as Rivers Avenue, is a multi-lane highway that passes through South Carolina as it travels across the northern, eastern and southeast regions of the United States. The history of this concrete surface dates back to the mid-1930s, when Rivers Avenue was the main corridor to the Charleston Naval Base. July 2012 APWA Reporter
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