Long-Term Plan for Concrete Pavement Research and Technology—The Concrete Pavement Road Map (Second Generation): Volume I, Background and Summary

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FOREWORD

The concrete paving industry has experienced many changes in the last 15 years. To achieve concrete pavement’s full potential in the 21st century, the industry has identified trends that call for dramatic, even revolutionary, improvements. Aiming for a holistic approach, the improvements can best be implemented through a carefully developed and aggressively implemented strategic plan for research and technology transfer known as the Long-Term Plan for Concrete Pavement Research and Technology (CP Road Map).

This report is volume I of II. It provides the background and summary information on the effort that led to the CP Road Map. Sufficient copies of this report are being distributed to provide eight copies to each Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Resource Center, five copies to each FHWA division, and a minimum of eight copies to each State highway agency. Direct distribution is being made to the division offices for forwarding to the State highway agencies. Additional copies for the public are available from the National Technical Information Service.

Jorge E. Pagán-Ortiz
Director, Office of Infrastructure
Research and Development

Technical Report Documentation Page

SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors

Table of Contents

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
  • THE CP ROAD MAP
  • WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE CP ROAD MAP?
  • A VISIONARY CHARGE
  • DRAWING A NEW MAP FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENT
    • A "Living" Research Database
    • Stakeholder Input
    • From Stakeholder Input to Plan
    • Problem Statements
    • Track Integration
  • CP ROAD MAP RESEARCH TRACKS
  • REACHING THE DESTINATION
    • Philosophy for Managing Research
    • Governing Structure
  • THE CP ROAD MAP TRACKS AND SUBTRACKS
  • ORGANIZATION OF VOLUMES I AND II
  • HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?
    
    
• CHAPTER 1. WHY A LONG-TERM RESEARCH PLAN FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENTS?
  • NEW TRENDS AND NEW NEEDS
    • Materials and Mixes
    • Motorists’ Expectations
    • Shift from Traditional Concrete Pavement Construction
    • Capital Squeeze
    • Going Green
    • Congestion and Loads
  • NEW NEEDS: A NEW GENERATION OF SOLUTIONS
    • Accelerated Implementation and Technology Deployment
  
  
  
• CHAPTER 2. CP ROAD MAP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
  • LITERATURE SEARCH/RESEARCH DATABASE
  • BRAINSTORMING EVENTS
    • Stakeholders
    • Brainstorming Strategies
  • PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER IN THE CP ROAD MAP
  
  
  
• CHAPTER 3. WHAT DOES THE STRATEGIC ROAD MAP LOOK LIKE?
  • SUMMARY
  • PROBLEM STATEMENTS
  • ESTIMATED BUDGET
  • TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
    • Track 1. Materials and Mixes for Concrete Pavements
    • Track 2. Performance-Based Design Guide for New and Rehabilitated Concrete Pavements
    • Track 3. Intelligent Construction Systems and Quality Assurance for Concrete Pavements
    • Track 4. Optimized Surface Characteristics for Safe, Quiet, and Smooth Concrete
    • Track 5. Concrete Pavement Equipment Automation and Advancements
    • Track 6. Innovative Concrete Pavement Joint Design, Materials, and Construction
    • Track 7. Concrete Pavement Maintenance and Preservation
    • Track 8. Concrete Pavement Construction, Reconstruction, and Overlays
    • Track 9. Evaluation, Monitoring, and Strategies for Long-Life Concrete Pavement
    • Track 10. Concrete Pavement Foundations and Drainage
    • Track 11. Concrete Pavement Economics and Business Management
    • Track 12. Concrete Pavement Sustainability
  
  
  
• CHAPTER 4. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
  • PERFORMANCE-BASED PAVEMENT SYSTEMS
  • WHY IS THIS TOPIC IMPORTANT?
  • OVERALL DESIGN GOAL
  • SPECIFIC DESIGN OBJECTIVES
  • RELATING DESIGN OBJECTIVES TO THE HIGHWAY USER
  • CRITICAL DESIGN ISSUES
    • Models
    • Understanding the Fundamentals of Concrete Pavement Response
    • Design Reliability
    • Feasible Designs for All Occasions
    • Efficient Pavement Designs for Low-Volume Local Roads
    • Lack of Integration of Design with Materials, Construction, and Rehabilitation
    • Design Procedures Deficiency
    • Preservation and Rehabilitation Design
    • Base and Subbase Foundations and Subdrainage
    • New and Innovative Concrete Pavement Design
    • Designs for All Types of Underlying Strata
  
  
  
• CHAPTER 5. MATERIALS AND MIXTURES CONSIDERATIONS
  • WHY IS THIS TOPIC IMPORTANT?
  • OVERALL MATERIALS AND MIXTURES GOAL
  • SPECIFIC MATERIALS AND MIXTURES OBJECTIVES
  • TOOLS FOR SUCCESS
  • CRITICAL MATERIALS AND CONCRETE MIXTURES ISSUES
    • Specifications
    • Mix Designs
    • Modeling
    • Materials Compatibility
    • Material Changes During Construction
    • Durability Design Model
  
  
  
• CHAPTER 6. CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS
  • WHY IS THIS TOPIC IMPORTANT?
  • OVERALL CONSTRUCTION GOAL
  • SPECIFIC CONSTRUCTION OBJECTIVES
  • CRITICAL CONSTRUCTION ISSUES
    • Accelerating Construction/Improving Workplace Safety
    • Lane Closure and Traffic Management Issues
    • ICSs and QA
    • Interaction of Variables
    • Variability
    • NDT
    • Performance Specifications
    • Construction Operations and Equipment
    • High-Speed/Low-Clearance Construction
    • Ensuring Long-Term Performance
    • Constructing and Controlling Surface Characteristics
    • Joint Sealing
    • Improving Competition
  
  
  
• CHAPTER 7. PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS SYSTEMS CONSIDERATIONS
  • WHY IS THIS TOPIC IMPORTANT?
  • OVERALL PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS SYSTEMS GOAL
  • PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS SYSTEMS OBJECTIVES
  • PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS SYSTEMS CONSIDERATIONS
    • Real-Time Data from Concrete Pavements
    • Feedback Data for Continuous Improvement
    • Performance Data on Innovations Through Accelerated Test Roads
    • Impact of Preservation Activities on Performance and Life
    • Economics and Innovative Contracting
    • Public-Private Partnerships
    • Technology Transfer
  
  
  
• CHAPTER 8. RESEARCH MANAGEMENT PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION
  • ASSUMPTIONS
  • OPERATING PRINCIPLES
  • CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF THE RESEARCH MANAGEMENT PLAN
  • RESEARCH MANAGEMENT PLAN: A UNIQUE MODEL WITH ROOTS IN THE PAST
  • PLAN GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
  • GETTING STARTED
  • OPERATING DETAILS
    • EAC
    • Research Track Team Leaders
    • Sustaining Organizations
    • Administrative Support Group
  • MORE ABOUT THE EAC
  • DATABASE MANAGEMENT: RECHARGING THE BRAIN OF THE CP ROAD MAP
    • Database Management, Road Map Update, and Research Track Integration
    • Software Integration
    • Implementation, Coordination, and Training on Research Output
    • Partnering and Fund Management
    • Concrete Pavement Innovation
  • RESEARCH MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL TRACKS
    • Track 1. Materials and Mixes for Concrete Pavements
    • Track 2. Performance-Based Design Guide for New and Rehabilitated Concrete Pavements
    • Track 3. Intelligent Construction Systems and Quality Assurance for Concrete Pavements
    • Track 4. Optimized Surface Characteristics for Safe, Quiet, and Smooth Concrete Pavements
    • Track 5. Concrete Pavement Equipment Automation and Advancements
    • Track 6. Innovative Concrete Pavement Joint Design, Materials, and Construction
    • Track 7. Concrete Pavement Maintenance and Preservation
    • Track 8. Concrete Pavement Construction, Reconstruction, and Overlays
    • Track 9. Evaluation, Monitoring, and Strategies for Long-life Concrete Pavement
    • Track 10. Concrete Pavement Foundations and Drainage
    • Track 11. Concrete Pavement Economics and Business Management
    • Track 12. Concrete Pavement Sustainability
  • THREE SPECIAL RESEARCH MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
    • Early Financing and Conduct of Research
    • Business System Changes
    • Technology Transfer
  • GETTING STARTED: NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL
  • SYNOPSIS OF CP ROAD MAP IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES (2006–2011)
    • EAC
    • Database
    • Track Team Meetings
  • APPENDIX A
    • BRAINSTORMING EVENTS
      
      
  • APPENDIX B
    • OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL SUSTAINING ORGANIZATIONS
      
      
  • APPENDIX C
    • COMPARISON OF OLD TRACKS AND NEW TRACKS
      
      
  • REFERENCES

  List of Figures

  • Figure 1. Illustration. CP Road Map development process
  • Figure 2. Illustration. Lab for advanced mixture designs
  • Figure 3. Illustration. Advanced models for performance-based design
  • Figure 4. Illustration. Technologies for monitoring pavement data and making real-time adjustments during construction
  • Figure 5. Illustration. Optimized pavement surfaces for a safe, quiet, and smooth ride
  • Figure 6. Illustration. Equipment and technology advancements
  • Figure 7. Illustration. Breakthrough techniques for designing and rehabilitating joints
  • Figure 8. Illustration. Dowel bar retrofitting used for pavement preservation
  • Figure 9. Illustration. Bonded concrete overlay over composite pavement
  • Figure 10. Illustration. Pavements that perform well for 60+ years
  • Figure 11. Illustration. Quality foundation and drainage system
  • Figure 12. Illustration. Innovative business systems
  • Figure 13. Illustration. LCA of sustainable concrete pavement alternatives
  • Figure 14. Flow chart. Research management plan
  • Figure 15. Illustration. CP Road Map goal
  • Figure 16. Screen shot. E-news example
  • Figure 17. Screen shot. MAP Brief example

  List of Tables

  • Table 1. Estimated budget
  • Table 2. Track coordinators
  • Table 3. Brainstorming (outreach) events

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

THE CP ROAD MAP

The Concrete Pavement (CP) Road Map is a comprehensive and strategic plan for concrete pavement research that guides the investment of research dollars. It is a living plan with broad stakeholder involvement. For the last 5 years, it has tracked and facilitated technologies that have been helping the concrete pavement community meet the paving needs of today as well as the paving challenges of the future. The CP Road Map is guiding the industry work toward a new generation of concrete pavements for the 21st century.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE CP ROAD MAP?

Strategic: It combines more than 270 research problem statements into 12 integrated 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: The CP Road Map plan is for the Federal, State, and private concrete pavement community. Peers helped create it, so it reflects all needs. It has guided stakeholders in both research selection and prioritization.

No cost or time limitations: The research contained in the CP Road Map is at an estimated overall cost of $275 to $500 million.

Independent of any one agency or pot of money: Stakeholders with funds and expertise will pool their resources, jointly conduct and coordinate the research, and apply the results. The plan incorporates innovative, effective research implementation to move useful new products and systems to the field quickly.

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 of new concrete pavements for several days (even weeks) while the concrete developed its intended design strength.

In the past 20 years, the industry has experienced more changes than those that occurred in the previous 80 years, and the following changes are turning the process of building concrete pavements on end:

• Today’s concrete mix designs must integrate a multitude of new–sometimes marginal–materials, resulting in serious compatibility problems and reduced tolerance for variations.
  
  
• Motorists are more demanding. They will tolerate only minimal road closures and delays due to roadwork, increasing the need for new paving methods that allow road crews to get in, get out, and stay out. Motorists want smoother, quieter pavements, pushing the industry to control pavement surface characteristics.
  
  
• Highway agency focus has shifted from building new pavements to rehabilitating and maintaining existing ones, which requires different designs, systems, materials, and equipment.
  
  
• Environmental pressures, including traffic congestion, drainage, and runoff issues, are affecting mix designs and pavement construction practices.
  
  
• Highway budgets are being squeezed at every level. The pavement community must do more with less.

In this environment, the old system for constructing concrete pavements is not meeting today’s demands. Pavement failures have occurred that were unheard of 30 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.

DRAWING A NEW MAP FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

The project to develop the CP Road Map began in 2001 through an agreement between the Innovative Pavement Research Foundation (IPRF) and a team led by Iowa State University’s Center for Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) Pavement Technology (PCC Center, now the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (National CP Tech Center)).

In May 2003, FHWA initiated a new agreement with the National CP Tech 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 transportation departments provided valuable input to the CP Road Map and supported its implementation.

An Iowa State University-led team facilitated the 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. Over the years, this database has been regularly updated and has served as a valuable resource as part of the research management.

Stakeholder Input

The success of the CP Road Map has been a result of a cooperative process involving high levels of stakeholder teamwork.

This cooperative process began during the CP Road Map development when five major brainstorming and feedback sessions were conducted at the following events: the October 2003 meeting of the Midwest Concrete Consortium (currently the National 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 (ACPA) in Kansas City, MO; a special January 2004 regional teleconference for western stakeholders; and an October 2004 final meeting of national stakeholders hosted by FHWA at the Turner- Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) 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:

• State and local transportation departments.
• FHWA.
• ACPA, including several State chapters.
• Portland Cement Association (PCA).
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
• National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA).
• TRB/National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) committees.
• American Public Works Association (APWA).
• National Association of County Engineers (NACE).
• Contractors.
• Materials suppliers.
• Research universities, especially departments conducting applied research.
• Private concrete testing laboratories.

Input was provided in the following four broad categories:

• Mixtures and materials.
• Design.
• Construction.
• Pavement management/business systems.

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 (QA) and quality control (QC) 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 2020, the highway community will have a comprehensive, integrated, and fully functional system of concrete pavement technologies that provides innovative solutions for customer-driven performance requirements.

Based on this goal and other stakeholder input, the following specific research objectives were identified:

• Maximize public convenience.
• Improve the driving experience.
• Integrate design, mixtures and materials, and construction with pavement performance predictions.
• Improve pavement reliability.
• Identify new and innovative business relationships to focus on performance requirements.
• Constrain costs while improving pavement performance.
• Protect and improve the environment.
• Expand opportunities to use concrete pavement.

The objectives were "filtered" through the project team’s database of existing research to determine gaps in the 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 270+ problem statements did not fit neatly 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. While there have been refinements, additions, and subtractions to the CP Road Map over the last 10 years of implementation, 12 tracks remain.

Problem Statements

Each problem statement is a topical summary only. Most problem statements are 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 report) makes research track team leaders responsible for data entry of detailed project statements into the database.

Track Integration

As noted in the 12 brief track descriptions below, 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 is 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 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 45 problem statements. Subtracks include statements describing the development of innovative technology transfer, training tools, and methods to ensure that innovative research products are quickly and efficiently moved into practice.

The following list provides a brief description of each research track:

1. Materials and Mixes for Concrete Pavements. 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 QC–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 state-of-the-art mix design.
   
   
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, which led to the development of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) subsequently released by AASHTOWare ^® as the design software DARWin-METM.⁽¹⁾ This track intends to continue to develop the models from that important work. The work in this track needs to be closely integrated with track 1.
   
   
3. Intelligent Construction Systems and Quality Assurance for Concrete Pavements. This track will develop intelligent construction systems (ICSs) consisting of high-speed nondestructive QA methods to evaluate pavement properties continuously during construction. As a result, immediate adjustments can be made to ensure the highest quality finished product that meets given performance specifications. Many problem statements in this track relate to tracks 1 and 2.
   
   
4. Optimized Surface Characteristics for Safe, Quiet, and Smooth Concrete Pavements. This track will improve the understanding of concrete pavement surface characteristics. It will provide tools for engineers to help meet or exceed predetermined requirements for friction/safety, tire-pavement noise, smoothness, splash and spray, hydroplaning, light reflection (albedo), 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 public safety.
   
   
5. Concrete Pavement 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, and jointing; 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.
   
   
6. Innovative Concrete Pavement Joint Design, Materials, and Construction. Potential products for this track include guidelines that address premature joint deterioration, 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.
   
   
7. Concrete Pavement Maintenance and Preservation. This track focuses on maintenance and preservation of concrete pavements in order to preserve existing highway infrastructure assets. Problem statements in this track seek to establish reliable procedures and develop new and innovative methods for concrete pavement maintenance and preservation. Many enhancements to existing maintenance and preservation treatments are also envisioned through this research, including automation of distress and maintenance need identification, automation application of maintenance and preservation treatments to reduce the cost and expedite the application of treatments, and enhancement of safety for maintenance workers.
   
   
8. Concrete Pavement Construction, Reconstruction, and Overlays. Concrete pavements across the country will continue to need rehabilitation under high-speed traffic conditions. Tremendous gains have been made in the past decade with respect to fast-track concrete paving, and this track will seek to expand research related to construction and reconstruction of concrete pavements in these types of environments. Furthermore, while asphalt pavement had traditionally been viewed as the only solution for overlays of existing pavement, over the past decade, tremendous advances have been made in understanding and usage of concrete for overlays. This track will facilitate continued momentum with respect to concrete overlays, particularly as a solution for fast-track applications.
   
   
9. Evaluation, Monitoring, and Strategies for Long-Life Concrete Pavement. Long-life pavements are needed to handle the congestion and traffic loading that pavements will experience in their lifetime. To meet a 30-year calendar design life, a pavement built today may need to withstand 70 to 100 percent more axle loads per mile than a similar pavement built 10 years ago. This track will focus on strategies, materials, and construction processes for long-life concrete pavements. It will address tools to help ensure long-life concrete pavements through data collection and usage of accelerated loading test facilities.
   
   
10. Concrete Pavement Foundations and Drainage. It has long been established that principal components of a long-life concrete pavement include a uniform foundation and proper measures taken for drainage. Given the sheer variety of potential conditions that can be present on any given job (e.g., soil type), there is no "one size fits all" solution. This track explores research and technology related to these important topics, with a particular emphasis on tasks that can be readily applied in a site-specific manner.
    
    
11. Concrete Pavement Economics and Business Management. 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 QC inspections. By including warranty provisions and innovative contracting clauses 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 topics such as contracting options, new technology transfer systems, public-private partnerships, and economic models.
    
    
12. Concrete Pavement Sustainability. The key to successfully increasing sustainability of concrete pavements is to consider the three "pillars" of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social considerations. In the context of this track, sustainability refers to the use of materials and practices in concrete pavement design, construction, operation, preservation, rehabilitation, and recycling (things we do now) that reduce life-cycle costs, improve the environmental footprint, and increase the benefits to society (things we need to learn to do). This track will focus on research into sustainable practices for both new construction and the concrete pavement network, which already exists. Research will identify and quantify characteristics of concrete pavement systems that contribute to enhanced sustainability of roadways in terms of economic, environmental, and social considerations, provide the tools and data needed to quantify each, and understand the relationship to one another.

REACHING THE DESTINATION

To date, implementation of the CP Road Map has followed the spirit of the research management plan as originally proposed–a framework that outlined a progressive, cooperative approach to managing and conducting the research. Under this plan, organizations identify common interests, partner with each other in executing specific contracts, and, in the end, produce and share a product that is greater than the sum of the parts.

The research management plan emphasizes scope control, phasing of research, reporting, systems integration, voluntary peer review, maintenance of the research database, program-wide technology transfer, and assistance to organizations that want to leverage their funds and human resources.

Philosophy for Managing Research

The research management plan is based on the following assumptions:

• The CP Road Map is a national research plan. It is not a plan solely for FHWA, but for State agencies and the industry as well.
• Even in a decentralized arena like research, it is possible (and critical) for stakeholder groups to come together voluntarily. Federal, State, and industry research staff and engineers around the country are looking for more opportunities to pool their funds and other resources in win-win situations. The National Concrete Consortium is an example of a successful cooperative approach to research.
• The all-too-common disconnection between research results and implementation of those results must be fixed. Communication, technology transfer, and outreach activities must be elevated to the same level of importance as research itself.
• The CP Road Map is too comprehensive and important for a part-time implementation effort. Managing the overall research program effectively and judiciously will require full-time, dedicated personnel with adequate resources.

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 (EAC), an administrative support group, research track team leaders, and sustaining organizations.

A tri-party EAC, representing FHWA, State transportation departments, and industry, will provide broad oversight of the CP Road Map. It will be a decisionmaking and policy-making facilitation group with many responsibilities, including the following:

• Assembling research track team leaders.
  
  
• Promoting partnering arrangements.
  
  
• Ensuring adequate integration of research across tracks.
  
  
• Developing and implementing a strategy to ensure that software products developed through various research tracks will be compatible with each other.
  
  
• Identifying new research program areas.
  
  
• Overseeing updates and maintenance of the research database.
  
  
• Developing a comprehensive technology transfer and training program for products of the CP Road Map.
  
  
• Developing a communications effort to keep the CP Road Map and its products in front of stakeholders and the public.
  
  
• Conducting self-evaluation studies.
  
  
• Keeping the momentum focused on outcomes, not just output.

An administrative support group will provide professional management services for the EAC 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 as follows:

• Validating and updating the track.
  
  
• Developing broad problem statements into specific, separate research projects, with scopes of work, timelines, and budgets.
  
  
• Identifying organizations to conduct or partner in the research.
  
  
• Establishing and overseeing subordinate technical expert working groups to guide complex work.
  
  
• Ensuring proper integration of work within the track and across track lines.
  
  
• Developing status reports.

Sustaining organizations, including 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.

The implementation of the CP Road Map has largely followed this plan, with the National CP Tech Center providing administrative support under contract through a transportation pooled fund project, TPF-5(185).⁽²⁾

THE CP ROAD MAP TRACKS AND SUBTRACKS

The CP Road Map is a plan for concrete pavement research consisting of 12 tracks and subtracks. Since its development, the management of these tracks has been conducted via track management teams consisting of leaders in the respective areas.

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 transportation departments, and Federal agencies. The estimates are subject to change as the CP Road Map evolves. All numbers provided are rounded. The total cost for all tracks is $277 to $492 million.

1. Materials and Mixes for Concrete Pavements ($38–$81 million)
   • 1-1. Performance-Based Mix Design and Specifications.
   • 1-2. Materials Selection and Testing.
   • 1-3. Innovative Materials.
   • 1-4. Materials Proportioning.
   • 1-5. Mixture Evaluation.
   • 1-6. Post-Construction Pavement Materials Evaluation.
2. Performance-Based Design Guide for New and Rehabilitated Concrete Pavements ($41–$60 million)
   • 2-1. Design Guide Structural Models.
   • 2-2. Design Guide Inputs, Performance Models, and Reliability.
   • 2-3. Special Design and Rehabilitation Issues.
   • 2-4. Improved Mechanistic Design Procedures.
   • 2-5. Design Guide Implementation.
3. Intelligent Construction Systems and Quality Assurance for Concrete Pavements ($20 – $41million)
   • 3-1. Quality Assurance.
   • 3-2. Intelligent Construction System Technologies and Methods.
   • 3-3. Intelligent Construction System Evaluation and Implementation.
4. Optimized Surface Characteristics for Safe, Quiet, and Smooth Concrete Pavements ($25–$54 million)
   • 4-1. Concrete Pavement Texture and Friction.
   • 4-2. Concrete Pavement Smoothness.
   • 4-3. Tire-Pavement Noise.
   • 4-4. Other Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics.
   • 4-5. Integration of Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics.
   • 4-6. Evaluation of Products for Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics.
   • 4-7. Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics Implementation.
5. Concrete Pavement Equipment Automation and Advancements ($26–$56 million)
   • 5-1. Concrete Batching and Mixing Equipment.
   • 5-2. Concrete Placement Equipment.
   • 5-3. Concrete Pavement Curing, Texturing, and Jointing Equipment.
   • 5-4. Concrete Pavement Foundation Equipment.
   • 5-5. Concrete Pavement Reconstruction Equipment.
   • 5-6. Concrete Pavement Restoration Equipment.
   • 5-7. Advanced Equipment Evaluation and Implementation.
6. Innovative Concrete Pavement Joint Design, Materials, and Construction (10–$15 million)
   • 6-1. Joint Design Innovations.
   • 6-2. Joint Materials, Construction, Evaluation, and Rehabilitation Innovations.
   • 6-3. Innovative Joints Implementation.
7. Concrete Pavement Maintenance and Preservation ($8–$13 million)
   • 7-1. Optimization and Automation of Pavement Maintenance.
   • 7-2. Optimized Concrete Pavement Preservation.
   • 7-3. Distress Identification and Preservation Treatment.
   • 7-4. Feedback Loop for Concrete Pavement Preservation Effectiveness.
8. Concrete Pavement Construction, Reconstruction, and Overlays ($31–$53 million)
   • 8-1. Construction, Reconstruction, and Overlay Planning and Simulation.
   • 8-2. Precast and Modular Concrete Pavements.
   • 8-3. Concrete Overlays.
   • 8-4. Fast-Track Concrete Pavements.
   • 8-5. Construction, Reconstruction, and Overlay Evaluation and Implementation.
9. Evaluation, Monitoring, and Strategies for Long-Life Concrete Pavement ($21–$34 million)
   • 9-1. Technologies for Measuring Concrete Pavement Performance.
   • 9-2. Strategies for Long-Life Concrete Pavements.
   • 9-3. Construction Techniques and Materials Selection for Long-Life Concrete Pavements and Overlays.
   • 9-4. Planning and Design of Accelerated Loading and Long-Term Data Collection.
   • 9-5. Preparation of Data Collection/Testing Procedures and Construction of Test Road.
   • 9-6. Long-Life Concrete Pavement Performance Implementation.
10. Concrete Pavement Foundations and Drainage ($6–$12 million)
    • 10-1. Concrete Pavement Foundations.
    • 10-2. Concrete Pavement Drainage.
11. Concrete Pavement Economics and Business Management ($21–$31 million)
    • 11-1. Concrete Pavement Research and Technology Management and Implementation.
    • 11-2. Concrete Pavement Economics and Life-Cycle Costs.
    • 11-3. Innovative Contracting and Incentives for Concrete Pavement Work.
    • 11-4. Technology Transfer and Publications for Concrete Pavement Best Practices
12. Concrete Pavement Sustainability ($30–$40 million)
    • 12-1. Materials and Mixture Proportioning Procedures for Sustainable Concrete Pavements.
    • 12-2. Design Procedures for Sustainable Concrete Pavements.
    • 12-3. Construction Practices for Sustainable Concrete Pavements.
    • 12-4. Preservation, Rehabilitation, and Recycling Strategies for Sustainable Concrete Pavements.
    • 12-5. Improved Economic Life-Cycle Cost Analysis for Sustainable Concrete Pavements.
    • 12-6. Adoption and Implementation of Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Concrete Pavements.
    • 12-7. Design Procedures for Sustainable Concrete Pavements.
    • 12-8. Concrete Pavement Decisions with Environmental Impact.

ORGANIZATION OF VOLUMES I AND II

The CP Road Map is published in two volumes. Volume I contains the executive summary plus the following eight chapters:

• Chapter 1 describes the background and need for the CP Road Map.
• Chapter 2 tells how the CP Road Map was developed.
• Chapter 3 provides an overview of the 12 tracks of planned research.
• Chapters 4 through 7 describe the critical issues and objectives that the CP Road Map addresses in the areas of design, mixtures and materials, construction, and pavement management/business systems.
• Chapter 8 describes the innovative research management plan that was developed to guide the conduct of research and how this management has been conducted to date.

Volume II contains the executive summary and describes in detail the 12 tracks of planned and ongoing research as follows:

• Each track begins with introductory material that summarizes the goal and objectives for the track and the gaps and challenges for its research program.
• A table of estimated costs provides the projected cost range for each problem statement, depending on the research priorities and scope determined in implementation.
• The problem statements within each track are grouped into subtracks. Each subtrack is introduced by a brief summary of the subtrack’s focus and a table listing the titles, estimated costs, products, and benefits of each problem statement in the subtrack.
• The problem statements then follow.

Each problem statement clearly defines tasks that need to be performed to produce a desired product or achieve a desired objective. Each problem statement will need to be developed into appropriate research project statements with detailed descriptions of the research to be accomplished, specific budgets, and definite timelines.

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?

Managing a long-term research program is a long, slow process. The CP Road Map provides a framework for moving forward.

Stakeholders in the concrete pavement community are invited to participate.

To receive a copy of the full two-volume CP Road Map with complete problem statements, contact Ahmad Ardani, FHWA, (202)-493-3422, ahmad.ardani@dot.gov.

For additional information, go to http://www.cproadmap.org.