Quantifying Components of Permanent and Cyclic Warping in Concrete Pavements

Drying shrinkage causes both permanent and transient differential volume change because a portion of drying shrinkage is reversible. The reversible portion of drying shrinkage causes moisture warping, which varies seasonally with changes in ambient relative humidity. Differential drying shrinkage is caused by the irreversible portion of drying shrinkage and is permanent. Moisture warping and differential drying shrinkage in jointed plain concrete pavements can lead to cracking and premature fatigue failure if not properly accounted for in design. This study investigated how the ambient relative humidity in various locations around the country affects the amount of expected moisture warping and differential drying shrinkage in typical jointed plain concrete pavements. The goal of this research was to produce design aids for the prediction of moisture warping and differential drying shrinkage for standard pavement sections in different areas of the United States.