Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2010

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Abstract

South Dakota State University (SDSU) and the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SD DOT) performed research into optimizing the current jointed plain concrete (JPC) mix design for pavement applications in South Dakota. JPC pavements have been included in the research for SDDOT Project SD2008-06, "Jointed Plain Concrete Design and Construction Review." In this study, the workability and durability of different JPC mixes made with either western South Dakota limestone coarse aggregates or eastern South Dakota quartzite coarse aggregates were tested in the Materials Laboratory at SDSU. The parameters that were varied included aggregate type (quartzite and limestone), aggregate top size (1.5 inch and 1.0 inch), blending aggregate type (pea rock and quartzite or limestone chipped aggregate), coarse to-fine aggregate ratio, and water/cementitious materials ratio. The measured results were analyzed in order to determine an optimized mix design for use in future JPC pavements. This study also included a literature search, aggregate testing, and measurement of fresh and hardened concrete properties. Part of the fresh concrete property testing included the development of a consolidation test apparatus, dubbed "The Jim", and the corresponding testing procedure. The consolidation test measures the "specific work" required to consolidate a fresh concrete sample. The hardened property tests were performed to evaluate the compressive strength, flexural strength, and freeze-thaw durability. The research shows that the consolidation ability of concrete was largely influenced by the total weight of the concrete. As the total weight of concrete increased, the amount of work required to consolidate concrete increased. The maximum aggregate top size (1.0 and 1.5 inches) had no effect on the compressive strength, flexural strength, and freeze-thaw durability performance. The compressive and flexural strength were both inversely related to the w/cm ratio. The freeze-thaw durability performance was dependent upon the type of 3/8 inch blending aggregate. Inclusion of pea rock in concrete resulted in poor freeze-thaw durability.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Pavements, Concrete -- South Dakota -- Joints
Pavements, Concrete -- South Dakota -- Design and construction
Concrete -- Testing

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

307

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Download

Share

COinS