Active Crack Control for Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements in Belgium Through Partial Surface Notches

Recent field observations on several newly constructed continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCPs) in Belgium indicate that the crack pattern is characterized by low mean crack spacing (approximately 1.0 m after 2 years in service) along with a high percentage of clusters of closely spaced cracks. Field surveys also indicate that it is difficult to reduce significantly the probability of a nonuniform crack pattern such as closely spaced cracks, meandering, and Y-cracks-by slightly adjusting the amount of longitudinal steel. The nonuniform crack pattern is inevitable and common in conventional CRCP. Previous experience in the United States shows that active crack control for CRCP can eliminate the cluster cracks and that a more uniform crack pattern with straight cracks can be achieved. A new partial surface notch for active crack control was proposed and adopted first in the reconstruction project of Motorway E313 in Herentals, Belgium, in 2012. The introduction of the proposed active crack control method is described in detail. The effectiveness of improving the crack pattern is demonstrated in the field investigations.