Performance Evaluation of Bonded Concrete Pavement Overlays after 11 Years

Concrete overlays were placed on continuously reinforced concrete (CRC) pavement sections of I-295 near Richmond, Virginia, and I-85 near Petersburg, Virginia. A 2-in. bonded portland cement concrete overlay on I-295 was placed to prevent spalling attributable to improper steel depth of the existing CRC pavement, and a 4-in. bonded portland cement concrete overlay on I-85 was placed to increase the structural capacity of the pavement. The CRC pavements were in reasonably good condition when the overlays were placed. Evaluations of the bonded overlays were conducted immediately after their placement in 1995, in 1999, and in 2006 after 11 years in service. The evaluations included bond strength testing between the overlay and the CRC pavement, chain drag testing to detect delamination between the overlays and the pavement, falling weight deflectometer testing to assess the in situ structural capacity of the bonded overlay pavement sections, permeability testing to determine the permeability conditions of the overlays, and skid resistance testing to check the surface texture conditions. The bonded concrete overlays performed well after 4 and 11 years. The results indicate that bonded overlays extended the life of the existing CRC pavements and are expected to last 20 years or more. The experience gained during 11 years is documented and the use of bonded concrete overlays is recommended where the design life can be realized.