Characteristics of Base Friction for Concrete Pavement Structure in China: Experimental Study

The restraint between the slab and the base of a concrete pavement structure is an important factor in the design of a concrete pavement. Excessive restraint can lead to unexpected distresses because of the daily cycle of ambient thermal influence and the changing moisture conditions that are ultimately detrimental to the performance of a pavement. Evaluation of base friction is needed for configuring joint sealing, slab thickness, and reinforced steel. The semirigid base, made mostly of cement-stabilized crushed stone, is widely used as the typical base for cement concrete pavement in China. Usually, a polythene sheet is placed between the concrete slab and the base to smooth the interface. In some cases, geotextiles and an asphalt bond breaker may be used to reduce friction. A series of push-off tests was performed under various conditions to study the characteristics of base friction for a typical concrete pavement in China. A polythene sheet, a geotextile, emulsified asphalt, and asphalt bond breakers...