The important role materials play in concrete pavement design, performance, and service life

The materials that make up concrete have a direct influence on the decisions made during pavement design and construction, as well as the performance of the pavement in service.

What happens when material performance varies from what was considered at design stage? What if we need to change construction methods or we experience something unexpected during construction? Are there some simple things we can do to reduce these risks and improve the long-term performance of concrete pavements?

This paper discusses the importance of understanding the properties constituent materials provide to a concrete pavement, and the importance of understanding what to do when something in the system changes. The intention is to highlight the relationship between material properties, design decisions, and construction implications to minimise the risk of costly defects and poorly performing assets