Publication Number: FHWA-SA-97-028
Date: October 1997

Articles in this Issue

Alkali-Silica Reactivity: Invisible, Insidious, but Not Incurable

Alkali-silica reactivity (ASR), which occurs beneath the surface of portland cement concrete bridges and pavements, is difficult to detect. Often, the first indication of the problem comes after the damage has been done, when the concrete has begun to crack and spall.

Turn to the Tech Briefs for the Latest LTPP Research Findings

Engineers, researchers, and others trying to keep up with new information and products from the long-term pavement performance (LTPP) program can now turn to Tech Briefs, a new series of summaries of recent LTPP reports. Each brief provides a concise summary of the findings of a recent research project; outlines the impact on current practices; and describes test methods, design guidelines, and other products that may result from the research.

Videotape Reveals Everything You Need To Know About Calibrating an FWD

Imagine going to H&R Block to have your income taxes prepared and not knowing what to bring or what was going to happen when you got there. You would end up either making numerous trips back and forth to fetch receipts and so forth or else filing an incomplete or inaccurate tax return.

FHWA Broadens the Base of Technical Support for Users of the Superpave System

State and local highway agencies now have a new resource for help with implementing the Superpave system-namely, a specially trained team of 20 FHWA field engineers (see sidebar). The engineers will extend the reach of the Superpave Technology Delivery Team, which provides overall coordination and oversight for FHWA's Superpave program.

Team Evaluates Rutting Problems at WesTrack

The researchers at WesTrack, the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) hot- mix asphalt test track in Nevada, were not surprised when several sections of the track had to be replaced in June. In its first year of operation, WesTrack had taken a beating from more than 2.8 million 80kN equivalent single-axle loads (ESALs), which caused severe rutting and fatigue cracking in many sections. What operators didn't expect was that those new sections would begin showing signs of permanent deformation after only a few days of service.

Symposium Features the Latest in Winter Road Maintenance

With winter fast approaching, 1, 300 highway maintenance workers and managers turned their thoughts to snow and ice at the Second Annual Eastern Winter Road Maintenance Symposium and Equipment Expo. Held in Hagerstown, Maryland, in September, the event was cosponsored by the Maryland Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with the participation of Maryland's Transportation Authority, State Highway Administration, and Transportation Technology Transfer Center.

SHRP Implementation Calendar