Development of a Test Method to Evaluate Durability of Pavement Joints under Winter Conditions

In areas with cold winters, premature failure in concrete pavement joints is a frequent phenomenon, yet there is no standard test method for evaluating their durability. In this study, the effectiveness of several evaluation techniques for concrete joint durability were evaluated. Concrete slabs with saw cuts representing joints were made, and exposed to different freezing and thawing/ wetting cycles, and different salt solutions (NaCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2). The durability of the joints was evaluated using measures of strength loss, mass loss, and a visual inspection. It was found that under these exposure conditions, the strength loss and visual inspection modes of evaluation could discern different levels of damage between different types of exposures, and also different concrete mixes (e.g. Different cement contents, strength and the presence or absence of SCM). Further research is required to evaluate the effects of sealants, saturated bases, and higher salt concentrations.