Coupled Thermal and Moisture Modeling of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements: A Sensitivity Study

This study outlines a coupled thermal and moisture transfer simulation model to simulate the environmental effects that impact a concrete pavement slab through its internal relative humidity (RH) profile. The model is validated by use of observed temperature and internal RH field data from an in-situ concrete pavement test section. A sensitivity simulation of this coupled model for arid region concrete slabs is conducted to better assess the impact of localized climatic factors such as wind speed, air RH, and local rainfall distribution on the concrete slab’s internal RH profile. Better understanding of the coupled effects of temperature and moisture will help improve predictions of critical concrete pavement factors such as moisture warping, differential drying shrinkage, chloride ion ingress, and other moisture durability-related concerns.