Performance of Non-Cementitious Repair Materials for Concrete Pavement Partial-Depth Repairs in Wisconsin

Abstract

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is continually looking for state-of the-art technologies, materials, and methodologies to cost-effectively preserve the condition of their pavements so as to extend the service life and delay the need for major rehabilitation or reconstruction. In a search for a more durable and sustainable concrete pavement repair strategy, WisDOT has used non-cementitious materials for partial-depth repairs (PDR) on concrete pavements but with varying levels of success. Where poor performance from these repairs has been observed, it has been attributed to either poor workmanship or inappropriate use of the repair material for the prevailing conditions. These factors suggest that the non-cementitious materials may have been used as a “band-aid” fix to allow for early opening to traffic rather than selected and implemented as the most suitable repair strategy to effectively address the specific distresses in the existing pavement. This paper presents a summary of an investigation into the use of non-cementitious repair materials for concrete pavement PDR applications. A field survey of five different non-cementitious repair materials used in PDR applications throughout Wisconsin was performed and the results documented. Additionally, the findings from a limited laboratory testing program conducted to assess the bond and dimensional stability properties of three non-cementitious materials at different testing temperatures are also presented. The paper concludes with guidance on the use of non-cementitious repair materials for concrete pavement PDR applications in Wisconsin.