A Review of Mechanisms Associated with Premature Joint Deterioration in Concrete Pavements

Premature deterioration of sawn joints has been reported in some cold climate regions in the USA. This paper reviews the multiple mechanisms have been found to contribute to the deterioration. Laboratory and field investigations have shown that freezing and thawing of saturated concreted is a dominant factor. Magnesium and calcium chloride salts used for de-icing also attract water and so increase the degree of saturation at the joint face. Laboratory tests have also demonstrated that where the interfacial transition zone around aggregates is exposed to salt solutions by saw-cutting, the risk of distress increases. This paper is a review of the mechanisms that appear to be contributing to this distress.