Forensic Investigation of Concrete Pavement: U.S. 460, Appomattox Bypass

About the report:

This report describes the investigation of structural failure in a section of the Appomattox Bypass along U.S. 460 in the town of Appomattox, Virginia. The bypass is a four-lane divided highway. The section that was investigated is an 11-year-old section of jointed plain concrete pavement located approximately between mile post 8.10 and mile post 8.35 in the eastbound lane. A forensic investigation was conducted to identify the causes of failure and determine reasonable remedial measures. The investigation included a visual condition survey, non-destructive testing, coring through pavement layers, and slab removal. Drainage problems, construction issues, and other pavement component issues were found with regard to this rigid pavement and led to the failure. Water trapped within the open-graded drainage layer aggravated the failure rate of the drainage layer abrading the underlying soil cement layer. As a remedial measure, the researchers suggested that the drainage function be restored, and the damaged pavement layers be repaired.

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