Experimental analysis of curling behavior of continuously reinforced concrete pavement

This study investigates the vertical deformation called the curling of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) and its relationships with crack spacing and temperature variation across the slab depth known as the temperature gradient. To this end, in-situ experiments are carried out at a full scale highway test section of CRCP. Two slab segments with different lengths (0.75 m and 2.0 m) and a free end expansion joint are chosen to cover a full spectrum of vertical slab movements that define the curling motions of CRCP. Test results showed that the slab segments and the expansion joint curled corresponding to the temperature gradient. The maximum curling displacements occurred along the shoulder side slab edges and those were prominent at the expansion joint and then at the transverse cracks. The curling displacements along the longitudinal joint side were smaller and those along the mid-slab were the smallest. The curling displacements at the expansion joint were not dependent on the length of CRCP. Although the curling motions of CRCP were not large enough to directly worsen the surface smoothness, suggestions were proposed to even improve the overall performance of CRCP.