COMPREHENSIVE PAVEMENTDESIGN MANUAL

Chapter 8 - Pavement Joints(Limited Revisions)

Revision 1

July 2, 2002

7/02/02

CHANGES TO CHAPTER 8

Pages Changes

8-3 Section 8.3. Revised reference to be compatible with Standard Specifications issuedJanuary 2, 2002.

8-4 Section 8.4. Revised reference to be compatible with Standard Specifications issuedJanuary 2, 2002.

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CHAPTER 8PAVEMENT JOINTS

Contents Page

8.1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

8.2 RIGID PAVEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

8.2.1 Longitudinal Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

8.2.1.1 Tied Longitudinal Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18.2.1.2 Untied Longitudinal Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

8.2.2 Transverse Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

8.2.2.1 Expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18.2.2.2 Contraction Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2

8.2.3 Urban Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2

8.3 FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

8.3.1 Longitudinal Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

8.4 REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4

Chapter 8 - Appendix

Appendix 8A PCC Standard Sheets

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8.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter includes guidance on the design and placement of pavement joints for rigid andflexible pavements.

8.2 RIGID PAVEMENTS

8.2.1 Longitudinal Joints

8.2.1.1 Tied Longitudinal Joints

Longitudinal joints establish slab width and typically coincide with travel lanes. The drivinglane/shoulder joint should be located 600 mm into the shoulder to improve lane load-carryingcapabilities. Longitudinal joints are either sawed or formed. Pavements with sawed joints are placedsimultaneously, while butt and warp joints are placed separately. Sawed joints are always tied andrely on a combination of aggregate interlock and steel longitudinal joint ties (tie bars) for loadtransfer. Tie bars are always epoxy coated deformed and provide some load transfer, but theirprimary function is to hold adjacent lanes together.

Formed joints may be either keyed or butt-type, and tied or untied. Keys in longitudinal jointsprovide load transfer between lanes. The assumption is that butt-type (keyless) joints have noaggregate interlocks, and load transfer is provided by tie bars and thus require closer tie spacings.

8.2.1.2 Untied Longitudinal Joints

Untied longitudinal joints are always keyed to provide load transfer, and should be used to isolatenonparallel, merging pavements. Also, independent transverse joint layouts can be used onopposite sides of untied longitudinal joints (transverse joints on one side of the untied longitudinaljoint need not coincide with those on the other side). This occurs primarily at intersections andramps. See M502 Standard Sheets for key details.

8.2.2 Transverse Joints

8.2.2.1 Expansion Joints.

Expansion joints are formed joints used to relieve tensile stress and establish slab length. Acompressible material, such as premolded resilient joint filler, is typically the forming medium. As

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a formed joint, it requires no first stage saw cuts. Load transfer is provided entirely by dowelsbecause forming precludes aggregate interlock. Expansion joints are used at intersections,reinforced slabs, and utility structures to prevent stress transmission from the pavement as itexpands in hot weather. Expansion joints require smooth, round dowels coated with a bond-breaker. Expansion caps are placed on alternating dowel ends to accommodate slab expansionand contraction. Dowels must be carefully aligned to prevent joint lockups. Expansion jointsgenerally require more long-term preventive maintenance and their use should thus be minimized(see Standard Sheet).

8.2.2.2 Contraction Joints.

Contraction joints are formed by saw cutting, producing a weakened plane within the PCC to inducea crack. They perform best when pavements are constructed at relatively high temperatures(>200C). When temperature drops, net shrinkage (contraction) occurs in PCC volume. Contractionjoints provide relief as pavement expands on hot summer days. Like expansion joints, contractionjoints require smooth, round dowels coated with a bond breaker and carefully aligned both verticallyand horizontally to prevent joint lockups. They also establish slab length and accommodate slabexpansion and contraction with changing temperature. Unlike expansion joints, contraction jointsrequire timely sawing of the pavement to ensure that the pavement cracks at joint assemblieswhere intended. Contraction joints typically require both a first stage and second stage saw cut.See M502 Standard Sheets for joint spacing and details. Load transfer at contraction joints isprovided by the dowel, aggregate interlock, and bearing support. To compensate for the lack ofaggregate interlock in the winter, dowels are designed to provide complete load transfer. Shorterslabs result in less movement at each joint, reducing joint sealer stress and improving sealerperformance.

8.2.3 Urban Considerations

In urban paving environments, the designer must deal not only with the normal problemsencountered by PCC rural pavements, i.e., support condition, environment, and traffic loading, butalso with interaction among utility structures, intersections, and space limitations. Ideally, utilitystructures should be separated from the pavement lanes, but that can rarely be accomplished.Utility structures that are not isolated from the rigid pavement lanes, develop higher stresses in thepavement. See M502 PCC Standard Sheet for specific details.

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8.3 FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS

8.3.1 Longitudinal Joints

The first signs of distress in a hot mix asphalt pavement occur at the weakest point in thepavement, usually the longitudinal joint. Construction of durable longitudinal joints is critical to apavements service life.

The optional methods for constructing longitudinal joints are butt joints and tapered wedge joints.When using either method, the standard specification states that placement of the surface courseshould be carefully planned to ensure that the longitudinal joints in the surface course willcorrespond with the edges of the proposed traffic lanes. Refer to Standard Specifications 402-3.09B for details of construction of butt and tapered joints.

The designer must include a special note in the project proposal that indicates if the longitudinalpavement joint can be left exposed to traffic overnight. This requirement will help the Contractorbid the contract accordingly. (Note: Refer to 619-3.01G3 for the case when the longitudinal jointis the lane/shoulder joint. The Contractor shall provide traffic protection in accordance with theprovisions of Table 619-1 for drop-offs within three meters of the travel lanes, except bridge drop-offs or other drop-offs in excess of 1.8 m deep). If the designer anticipates the longitudinalpavement joint in excess of 30 meters can be left exposed to traffic overnight they should includemaintenance and protection of traffic requirements to alert drivers of the uneven edge. As aminimum, W8-39, UNEVEN LANES signs should be posted on both sides of the roadway at amaximum 300 meter spacing. Consideration should be given to include R4-10, STAY IN LANEsigns. The Regional Traffic and Safety Unit should be consulted. An exposed longitudinalpavement joint should not be allowed if it is expected that traffic will frequently change lanes. Underno circumstances can traffic be allowed to travel over a longitudinal pavement joint constructed asa butt joint. Minimizing damage to the shape of the joint (urban vs. rural projects) and the safetyof the motoring public must be considered in the decision to allow an exposed longitudinalpavement joint. The following are examples of special notes for the designer to use:

During paving operations on this contract a longitudinal pavement joint length in excess of30 meters at the end of the working day is prohibited.

Prior to paving operations on this contract, the contractor may request approval, in writing,to leave exposed a longitudinal pavement joint in excess of 30 meters at the end of the workday. Approval is contingent upon the use of Option B - Tapered Wedge Joint of Section 402-3.09 Joints, of the Standard Specifications. Maintenance and protection of traffic

requirements to provide adequate, advanced warning to motorists must be provided asdetailed in these contract documents. As a minimum W8-39, UNEVEN LANES signs must

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be posted on both sides of the roadway at a maximum 300 meter spacing. Paving operationsmust be planned so the edge is only exposed to traffic for one night and is not exposed overweekends or holidays. If the exposed edge becomes damaged or provides an unsafecondition for motorists, the approval to expose a longitudinal pavement joint in excess of 30meters at the end of the work day will be rescinded.

8.4 REFERENCES

1. New York State Department of Transportation draft standard sheet Utility Isolation and JointLayout General Notes, M502.

2. New York State Department of Transportation Standard Specifications - Section 402-3.09and 619-3.01G3.

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COMPREHENSIVE PAVEMENT DESIGN MANUAL

Chapter 8: Appendix 8A

PCC Standard Sheets

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APPENDIX 8A - PCC STANDARD SHEETS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Sheet

1. Typical Plan, Cross Section, and Joint Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-11

2. Longitudinal Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-12

3. Longitudinal Joint Ties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-13

4. Transverse Joint Sawing and Sealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-14

5. Transverse Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-15

6. Transverse Joint Sawing and Sealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-16

7. Utility Isolation and Joint Layout - General Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-17

8. Utility Isolation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-18

9. Telescoping Manhole Casting Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-19

10. Non-Telescoping Manhole Casting Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-20

11. Shallow Structure Isolation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-21

12. Drainage Structure Isolation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-22

13. Drainage Structure Isolation Near Manhole Castings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-23

14. Multiple Utilities Isolation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M502-24

15. Telescoping Manhole Casting & Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M655-14

Table of Contents1. Introduction & Glossary2. Evaluation of Existing Pavements3. Project Development Process4. New Construction/Reconstruction5. Rehabilitation6. Materials7. Shoulders8. Pavement JointsCh. 8 - T.O.C.Appendix 8A - PCC Standard SheetsM502-11M502-12M502-13M502-14M502-15M502-16M502-17M502-18M502-19M502-20M502-21M502-22M502-23M502-24M655-14

9. Subsurface Pavement Drainage10. Preventive Maintenance