HIPERPAV® Case Studies: Forensic and Proactive Applications of Innovative Software for Assessing Uncontrolled Cracking Potential in Concrete Pavements

The balance between productive construction operations and a quality final product is a constant challenge facing today’s owners and contractors. In the pavement industry, innovative technologies such as the HIPERPAV®II system allow this balanced goal to be obtainable. The software is also a viable option for addressing forensic studies of premature distress. The software is also a viable option for addressing forensic studied of premature distress. Both proactive and forensic applications are addressed in this paper through the use of case studies. HIPERPAV® models the impact of specific construction operations, concrete mixtures, geometric design, and environmental factors on early age strength and stress development during the construction phase. These combined factors in addition to the traffic loading affect the overall long-term performance of the pavement. The first three case studies review the proactive scheduling of the sawing operations, changes that can be made to minimize the risk of high thermal stresses when a cold front is expected soon after concrete placement, and the time of concrete placement during high temperature conditions. The last case study addresses a forensic investigation where the effect of coarse aggregate type on a continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) is determined. All case studies emphasize the influence of HIPERPAV®II during the construction planning phase or the usefulness of the software in a forensic investigation.