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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

Report
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-05-047
Date: June 2005

The Concrete Pavement Road Map

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The Concrete Pavement Road Map cover photo. The cover is a collage of drawings in four-color. It includes a large yellow machine that appears to be taking up old cement and transferring it to the bed of a yellow dump truck. An engineer in a hard hat is looking at a hand-held radio transmitter. A man stands on a large piece of paving equipment. A woman wearing a lab coat is sitting at a laptop computer that is on a table stationed in a lab with a large piece of equipment beside the table and in the background. Another woman wearing a headset appears to be seated at a computer and small graphs in the drawing indicate this may be what she is seeing on her computer screen.

Table of Contents

  1. The CP Road Map
  2. What Is Unique About The CP Road Map
  3. CP Road Map Vision
  4. A Visionary Charge
  5. Drawing A New Map For Concrete Pavements
  6. CP Road Map Development Process
  7. CP Road Map Research Tracks
  8. Reaching The Destination
  9. Research Management Plan
  10. The CP Road Map Tracks and Subtracks
  11. How Can You Participate?

THE CP ROAD MAP

The Concrete Pavement (CP) Road Map is a comprehensive and strategic plan for concrete pavement research that will guide the investment of research dollars for the next several years. It will result in technologies and systems that help the concrete pavement community meet the paving needs of today, and the as-yet unimagined paving challenges of tomorrow. In short, the CP Road Map will result in a new generation of concrete pavements for the 21st century.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE CP ROAD MAP?

Strategic—It combines more than 250 research problem statements into 12 fully integrated, sequential, and cohesive tracks of research leading to specific products that will dramatically affect the way concrete pavements are designed and constructed.

Innovative—From the way it was developed, to its unique track structure and cross-track integration, to the plan for conducting the research, the CP Road Map introduces a new, inclusive, and far-reaching approach to pavement research.

Stakeholder Involvement—This CP Road Map plan is for the Federal, State, or private concrete pavement community. Peers helped create it, so it reflects all needs.

No cost or time limitations—In general, it is a 7- to 10-year plan with an estimated overall cost of $250 million.

No ties to one agency or pot of money—Stakeholders with funds and expertise will pool their resources, jointly conduct and coordinate the research, and put the results into practice.

The plan incorporates innovative, effective research implementation to quickly move useful new products and systems to the field.

A VISIONARY CHARGE

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the concrete pavement industry have commissioned a national research plan for the 21st century. Why is such a plan needed?

For most of the 20th century, the same materials--portland cement, high quality aggregate, and water--were used in pavement concrete, with only minor refinements. It was a fairly forgiving formula that allowed some variations in subgrade quality, construction practices, and other variables without sacrificing pavement performance. For generations, the industry had the luxury of keeping traffic off new concrete pavements for several days, even weeks, while the concrete developed its internal design strength.

In the last 15 years, the industry has experienced more changes than those that occurred in the previous 80 years, and these changes are turning the process of building concrete pavements on end:

In this environment, the old system for constructing concrete pavements is not meeting today's demands. Pavement failures have occurred that were unheard of 25 years ago. The concrete pavement community cannot continue business as usual if it is going to meet the growing demands on highway construction and rehabilitation. The CP Road Map gives the community an opportunity to proactively reinvent itself through research.

CP ROAD MAP VISION

By 2015, the highway community will have a comprehensive, integrated, fully functional system of concrete pavement technologies that provide innovative solutions for customer-driven performance requirements.

Illustration of Concrete Pavement Road Map Goal. Click here for more detail

DRAWING A NEW MAP FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

The project to develop the Long-Term Plan for Concrete Pavement Technology began in 2001 through an agreement between the Innovative Pavement Research Foundation and a team led by Iowa State University's Center for Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Technology (PCC Center).

In May 2003, FHWA initiated a new agreement with the PCC Center to complete the work. The Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee for Research on Improved Concrete Pavements acted as the project advisory panel. Twenty percent of total funding for the project was provided by Iowa State University. The concrete pavement industry and State departments of transportation provided valuable input to the CP Road Map and support its implementation.

An Iowa State University-led team facilitated development of the CP Road Map. They developed a database of existing research and gathered input, face-to-face, from the highway community. The team identified gaps in research that became the basis for problem statements, which are organized into a cohesive, strategic research plan.

A "Living" Research Database
The research database is a thorough catalog of recently completed and in-progress research projects and their products. If regularly updated and maintained, as recommended in the research management plan (described later in this brochure), the database will be a valuable resource for many years.

Stakeholder Input
To ensure the adoption and success of the CP Road Map, it was developed through a cooperative process involving high levels of stakeholder teamwork.

Five major brainstorming and feedback sessions were conducted by the Iowa team at the following events: the October 2003 meeting of the Midwest Concrete Consortium in Ames, IA; a special November 2003 regional workshop for eastern and southern stakeholders in Syracuse, NY; the May 2004 meeting of the American Concrete Pavement Association in Kansas City, MO; a special January 2004 regional teleconference for western stakeholders; and, in October 2004, a final meeting of national stakeholders hosted by FHWA at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, VA.

Through these events, plus special presentations at more than 20 professional conferences and workshops across the country, more than 400 engineers and managers provided direct input into the CP Road Map.

Participants represented the following entities:

Input was provided in 4 broad categories:

Again and again, stakeholders who participated in these brainstorming events said they needed more and better analysis tools for measuring the hows and whys of pavement failures and successes--that is, to measure pavement performance. Better quality assurance and quality control methods/tools are needed for every stage of the pavement system, particularly mix design, design, and construction. Because variables in each stage affect the others, the methods/tools must be integrated across stages.

From these concepts of pavement performance and systems integration, the following overall vision for the CP Road Map was developed:

By 2015, the highway community will have a comprehensive, integrated, fully functional system of concrete pavement technologies that provides innovative solutions for customer-driven performance requirements.

Based on this goal and other stakeholder input, dozens of specific research objectives were identified:

The objectives were "filtered" through the project team's database of existing research to determine gaps in research. These gaps became the basis for problem statements.

Approximately 250 problem statements were written, reviewed, and fine tuned. Final versions of the problem statements were added to the research database as work to be accomplished via the CP Road Map.

Research problem statements, projects, budgets, timelines, and research results in the database must be regularly updated. The CP Road Map will succeed only if the database is managed and maintained.

From Stakeholder Input to Plan
Most of the 250-plus problem statements did not neatly fit into just one of the brainstorming categories (mixtures and materials, design, construction, and pavement management/business systems).To capture the cross-categories and the integrated nature of the problem statements, the problem statements were organized into 12, product-focused tracks of research within the database. This structure encourages various stakeholder groups to step forward as champions for a specific track.

Problem Statements
Each problem statement is a topical summary only. Most problem statements will be further broken down into specific research project statements that provide detailed descriptions of the research to be accomplished, budgets, and timelines. The research management plan (described later in this document) makes research track team leaders responsible for data entry of detailed project statements into the database.

Research problem statements, projects, budgets, timelines, and research results in the database must be regularly updated. The CP Road Map will succeed only if the database is managed and maintained.

Track Integration
As noted in the 12 brief track descriptions on pages 8-11, research in one track often affects or is affected by research in another track. In the CP Road Map, this interdependence and other critical relationships are outlined in the track and problem statement descriptions. It will be the responsibility of research track team leaders, as described later in this document, to ensure that research is appropriately coordinated and integrated.

Moreover, the research database can be sorted to isolate problem statements on a variety of subjects. For example, several important problem statements related to foundations and drainage systems, maintenance and rehabilitation, and environment advancements are included in various tracks. In the CP Road Map, problem statements related to these particular topics have been listed in separate cross-reference tables.

CP ROAD MAP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

 

Illustration of steps 1 thru 4 of the concrete pavement development process: research database, 5 major brainstorming events, research objectives, and gaps in research. Click here for more detail.

CP ROAD MAP RESEARCH TRACKS

Each of the CP Road Map tracks is a full research program in itself, with its own budget, 2 to 7 subtracks, and as many as 20 problem statements. Tracks 1 through 9 consist of timed sequences of research leading to particular products that are essential to reaching overall research goals. In the CP Road Map, one subtrack in every phased track is devoted to developing innovative technology transfer, training tools, and methods to ensure that innovative research products are quickly and efficiently moved into practice. Tracks 10, 11, and 12 are not phased because timing is not as critical.

The products developed through the first four tracks may be especially critical to helping the industry achieve the full potential of concrete pavements.

Following is a brief description of each research track:

  1. Performance-Based Concrete Pavement Mix Design System. The final product of this track will be a practical yet innovative concrete mix design procedure with new equipment, consensus target values, common laboratory procedures, and full integration with both structural design and field quality control--a lab of the future. This track also lays the groundwork for the concrete paving industry to assume more responsibility for mix designs as State highway agencies move from method specifications to more advanced acceptance tools. For such a move to be successful, it is important that the concrete paving industry and owner-agencies refer to a single document for mix design state-of-the-art.

    Track 1 Illustration. This illustration accompanies the text description of Track 1 and depicts a lab of the future, in which two researchers are using advanced computers, software, and other technology to develop innovative mix designs.

  2. Performance-Based Design Guide for New and Rehabilitated Concrete Pavements. Under this track, the concrete pavement research community will expand the mechanistic approach to pavement restoration and preservation strategies. This track builds on the comprehensive work done under NCHRP 1-37A (development of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide) and continues to develop the models from that key work. The work in this track needs to be closely integrated with track 1.

    Track 2 Illustration. This illustration accompanies the text description of Track 2 and depicts a design conference, in which four designers are working around a table in front of computers. The designers are manipulating several variables in a paving project-materials, weather, structural requirements, pavement characteristics, subgrade and drainage-and can see the design implications of various scenarios projected on large screens in front of the table.

  3. High-Speed Nondestructive Testing and Intelligent Construction Systems. This track will develop high-speed, nondestructive quality control systems to continuously monitor pavement properties during construction. As a result, on-the-fly adjustments can be made to ensure the highest quality finished product that meets given performance specifications. Many problem statements in this track relate to both tracks 1 and 2.

    Track 3 Illustration. This illustration accompanies the text description of Track 3 and depicts a construction supervisor using a hand-held device to monitor real-time data during construction and making real-time adjustments. In the background, a global positioning system satellite, a futuristic paving machine and other construction equipment, and sunshine turning to rain emphasize the fast decisions and immediate adjustments that must be made during a paving project.

  4. Optimized Surface Characteristics for Safe, Quiet, and Smooth Concrete Pavements. This track will result in a better understanding of concrete pavement surface characteristics. It will provide tools for engineers to help meet or exceed predetermined requirements for friction/safety, pavement-tire noise, smoothness, splash and spray, wheel path wear (hydroplaning), light reflection, rolling resistance, and durability (longevity). Each of the functional elements of a pavement listed above is critical. The challenge is to improve one characteristic without compromising another characteristic, especially when it comes to safety of the public.

    Track 4 Illustration-This illustration accompanies the text description of track 4 and depicts enhanced pavement surface characteristics. An inset shows a child sleeping peacefully and safely in a car seat during a rainstorm. A semitractor-trailer on the road in front of the child's car is not making significant noise or causing significant splash of surface water, as shown by an inset closeup of the truck's tires, and the child's car has sufficient traction in the rain on a curvy road.

  5. Equipment Automation and Advancements. This track will result in process improvements and equipment developments for high-speed, high quality concrete paving equipment to meet the concrete paving industry's projected needs and the traveling public's expectations for highway performance in the future. Examples include the next generation of concrete batching and placement equipment; behind-the-paver equipment to improve curing, surface treatment, jointing, etc.; mechanized ways to place and control subdrains and other foundation elements; equipment to remove/replace the slab in one-pass construction; improved repair processes that decrease the time of operations and provide the workforce and traveling public with less exposure; and methods for evaluating new equipment on actual construction projects.

    Track 5 Illustration. This illustration accompanies the text description of track 5 and depicts a futuristic, one-step pavement lifter, crusher, and sorter.

  6. Innovative Concrete Pavement Joint Design, Materials, and Construction. Potential products for this track include a new joint design, high-speed computer analysis techniques for joint performance, a more accurate installation scheme, and faster rehabilitation strategies. The problem statements in this track address the basics--joint design, materials, construction, and maintenance activities. The track also specifies research that will help develop breakthrough technologies and extremely high-speed joint repair techniques. This is a crosscutting track to ensure that all topics related to innovative joints are addressed. Much of the proposed research will develop important incremental improvements.

    Track 6 Illustration. -This illustration accompanies the text description of track 6 and depicts a new joint in a slab of concrete, with two cars approaching from either side of the joint. The joint is drawn to look like a zipper, to indicate that in the future joints will be replaced as quickly and conveniently as zipping a zipper.

    In the CP Road Map, one subtrack in every phased track is devoted to developing innovative technology transfer, training tools, and methods to ensure that innovative research products are quickly and efficiently moved into practice. Tracks 10, 11, and 12 are not phased because timing is not as critical.

  7. High-Speed Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation and Construction. Faster techniques and higher quality can and must be accomplished in the future. This track addresses a series of activities,from the planning and simulation of high-speed construction and rehabilitation,precast and modular options for concrete pavements, and fast-track concrete pavement construction and rehabilitation, to the evaluation and technology transfer of high-speed construction and rehabilitation products and processes developed through research. Some high-speed construction issues will likely be investigated in tracks 1 and 3,and those efforts will be closely coordinated with this track.

    Track 7 Illustration - This illustration accompanies the text description of track 7 and depicts a preformed concrete slab being lowered by cables. This is one example of high-speed construction technology.

  8. Long Life Concrete Pavements.The need for pavements that last longer between maintenance, restoration, or rehabilitation is integrated throughout the CP Road Map. However, this track draws attention to some specific research that may address pavement life approaching 60 years or more.

    Track 8 Illustration - This illustration accompanies the text description of track 8. A series of large, futuristic screens showing calendars, rain and sunny weather, surveyors,excavation equipment, paving equipment, and traffic on the finished roadway depict various stages in the life of a concrete pavement system.

  9. Concrete Pavement Accelerated and Long-Term Data Collection.This track provides the infrastructure "data collection and reporting tools, testing methods, etc." for a future national program that will plan accelerated loading and long-term data needs, construct test sections, and collect and share data. The problem statements in this track will explore which data are most useful and determine the amount of time needed to collect the data.

    Track 9 Illustration - This illustration accompanies the text description of track 10 and depicts data being collected by pavement monitoring devices placed throughout the roadway system. The data listed are air void system, traffic spectrum, material-related distress, density, noise, pavement surface conditions, International Roughness Index smoothness, satellite global positioning system relay, and high-speed detection and analysis system. These data will be the basis for improving management of the entire pavement system and improving business systems.

  10. Concrete Pavement Performance. This track addresses key elements of pavement management and asset management systems. Such systems determine if and how pavements meet performance characteristics for highway agencies and users. Research in this track will determine and address the functional aspects of concrete pavement performance, particularly factors such as pavement-tire noise, friction, smoothness, and others. Research also will provide rapid concrete pavement performance feedback and examine ways to schedule surface characteristics and condition improvements. Developing feedback loops in highway agencies' pavement management systems will be crucial to monitor performance effectively and rapidly.

    Track 10 Illustration - This illustration accompanies the text description of track 10 and depicts data being collected by pavement monitoring devices placed throughout the roadway system. The data listed are air void system, traffic spectrum, material-related distress, density, noise, pavement surface conditions, International Roughness Index smoothness, satellite global positioning system relay, and high-speed detection and analysis system. These data will be the basis for improving management of the entire pavement system and improving business systems.

  11. Concrete Pavement Business Systems and Economics. Roles and responsibilities are changing in the highway industry, affecting the way paving projects are designed, bid, built, and maintained .Contractors are being asked to assume more control of the operation and quality control inspections. By including warranty provisions in project contracts, owner-agencies are asking for additional assurance that pavements will be built and will perform as expected. Internationally, many countries have made dramatic changes in project funding methods and in the roles of contractors and suppliers. This track captures some important research that should be considered as this process of transformation continues in the United States. Problem statements cover contracting options, new technology transfer systems, public-private partnerships, economic models, etc.

    Track 11 Illustration - This illustration accompanies the text description of track 11 and depicts several contractors at a project bidding conference. Seven people are seated around a table; two of them are using computers, and the rest have papers in front of them.

  12. Advanced Concrete Pavement Materials.The problem statements in this track address the development of new materials and refine or reintroduce existing advanced materials to enhance performance, improve construction, and reduce waste. Many of the existing materials studied in this track have been used thus far on a small scale or in laboratory evaluations only. Many of them have not been used in the United States but show promise based on work done in other countries. This track will experiment with such materials on a larger scale and will develop standards and recommendations for their use. The research will foster innovation in the development of additional, new, and innovative concrete pavement materials.

    Track 12 Illustration. This illustration accompanies the text description of track 12. It depicts a lab technician viewing computer graphics resulting from advanced testing of mix materials. The two graphs the technician is viewing are inset in the illustration.

REACHING THE DESTINATION

The CP Road Map is accompanied by a research management plan that outlines a progressive, cooperative approach to managing and conducting the research. Under this plan, organizations identify common interests, partner with one another in executing specific contracts, and, in the end, produce and share a product that is greater than the sum of the parts.

Philosophy for Managing Research

The research management plan is based on these assumptions:

Governing Structure

In line with this general philosophy, the research management plan outlines a four-tier system of participation and responsibility: an executive advisory committee, an administrative support group, research track team leaders, and sustaining organizations.

A tri-party executive advisory committee, representing FHWA, State departments of transportation, and industry, will provide broad oversight of the CP Road Map. It will be a decision- and policymaking, facilitation group with many responsibilities including:

An administrative support group will provide professional management services for the executive advisory committee and, to a lesser degree, the research track team leaders. It will be the "doing" body for coordination and support activities, like maintaining the research database.

Research track team leaders will coordinate and oversee all activities within a specific research track:

Sustaining organizations--agencies, consultants, universities, professional associations, and other organizations with specialized interests and skills that are interested in pooling dedicated funds--will assume responsibility for conducting research through cooperation, partnerships, and funding agreements. Some people and organizations will assume multiple roles.

In addition, sustaining organizations conducting research under the CP Road Map may retain full fiscal and technical control of the work under their jurisdictions. The key to successful conduct of the research, however, is cooperation, and the research management plan facilitates and supports cooperative efforts.

RESEARCH MANAGEMENT PLAN

Illustration of Research Management Plan -This illustration shows the organizational structure for managing research outlined in the CP Road Map. An executive advisory committee will oversee all management activities and act as track team leader for track 11, supported by an administrative support group. The support group also will provide some administrative assistance to the research track team leaders (one team for each track). The executive advisory committee and research track team leaders will work closely together.

THE CP ROAD MAP TRACKS AND SUBTRACKS

The CP Road Map is a 7- to 10-year plan for concrete pavement research consisting of the following tracks and subtracks.

The general range of costs associated with each track represents the time dedicated to the CP Road Map by multiple stakeholders who contributed to its development. The support needed for this effort comes from in-kind services and funding provided by a number of participants including industry organizations, State departments of transportation, and Federal agencies. These estimates are subject to change as the CP Road Map evolves.

  1. Performance-Based Concrete Pavement Mix Design System $30-68M*

    • Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) Mix Design System Development and Integration.
    • PCC Mix Design Laboratory Testing and Equipment.
    • PCC Mix Design Modeling.
    • PCC Mix Design Evaluation and Implementation.
  2. Performance-Based Design Guide for New and Rehabilitated Concrete Pavements $41-60M

    • Design Guide Structural Models.
    • Design Guide Inputs, Performance Models, and Reliability.
    • Special Design and Rehabilitation Issues.
    • Improved Mechanistic Design Procedures.
    • Design Guide Implementation.
  3. High-Speed Nondestructive Testing and Intelligent Construction Systems $20-41M

    • Field Control.
    • Nondestructive Testing Methods.
    • Nondestructive Testing and Intelligent Control System Evaluation, and Implementation.
  4. Optimized Surface Characteristics for Safe, Quiet, and Smooth Concrete Pavements $25-54M

    • Concrete Pavement Texture and Friction.
    • Concrete Pavement Smoothness.
    • Tire-Pavement Noise.
    • Integration of Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics.
    • Evaluation of Products for Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics.
    • Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics Implementation.
    • Other Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics.
  5. Concrete Pavement Equipment Automation and Advancements $26-56M

    • Concrete Batching and Mixing Equipment.
    • Concrete Placement Equipment.
    • Concrete Pavement Curing, Texturing, and Jointing Equipment.
    • Concrete Pavement Foundation Equipment.
    • Concrete Pavement Reconstruction Equipment.
    • Concrete Pavement Restoration Equipment.
    • Advanced Equipment Evaluation and Implementation.
  6. Innovative Concrete Pavement Joint Design, Materials, and Construction $10-15M

    • Joint Design Innovations.
    • Joint Materials, Construction, Evaluation, and Rehabilitation Innovations.
    • Innovative Joints Implementation.
  7. High-Speed Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation and Construction $10-20M

    • Rehabilitation and Construction Planning and Simulation.
    • Precast and Modular Concrete Pavements.
    • Fast-Track Concrete Pavements.
    • Rehabilitation and Construction Evaluation and Implementation.
  8. Long Life Concrete Pavements $11-17M

    • Pavement Strategy for Long Life Concrete Pavements.
    • Construction and Materials for Long Life Concrete Pavements and Overlays.
    • Long Life Concrete Pavement Implementation.
  9. Concrete Pavement Accelerated and Long-Term Data Collection $10-16M

    • Planning and Designing Accelerated Loading and Long-Term Data Collection.
    • Materials, Construction, Monitoring, and Reporting on Testing.
    • Accelerated Loading and Long-Term Data Collection Implementation.
  10. 10. Concrete Pavement Performance $3-4M

    • Technologies for Determining Concrete Pavement Performance.
    • Guidelines and Protocols for Concrete Pavement Performance.
  11. Concrete Pavement Business Systems and Economics $21-31M

    • Concrete Pavement Research and Technology Management and Implementation.
    • Concrete Pavement Economics and Life Cycle Costs.
    • Contracting and Incentives for Concrete
    • Technology Transfer and Publications for Concrete Pavement Best Policies
    • Concrete Pavement Decisions with Environment Impact.
  12. Advanced Concrete Pavement Materials $11-23M

    • Performance-Enhancing Concrete Pavement Materials.
    • Construction-Enhancing Concrete Pavement Materials.
    • Environment-Enhancing Concrete Pavement Materials.

$218-405M Total
*All numbers are rounded

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?

Beginning a long-term research program is a long, slow process. In this case, the CP Road Map provides a framework for moving forward.

Stakeholders in the concrete pavement community are invited to participate:

 

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