Evaluation of the Benefits of Diamond Grinding of a Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement

This paper discusses a study to evaluate the benefits on a continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) of diamond grinding used specifically for improving pavement functionality in surface macrotexture, skid resistance, roughness, and noise. The effectiveness of diamond grinding in improving those properties is calculated on the basis of in-field observations. The effect of three preexisting conditions (carpet drag, burlap drag, and transverse tining) on the effectiveness of diamond grinding is also evaluated. The results of the analysis indicate that diamond grinding improved the surface macrotexture by 0.6 mm and skid resistance by about 60%. The surface roughness of the diamond-ground sections was, on average, appreciably reduced, from 124 to 80 in./mi. An average overall reduction in noise level of 3.2 dB(A) was evident. A maximum reduction in the region of the noise frequencies (1,000 to 2,500 Hz) was observed, with a maximum noise reduction of 5.6 dB(A) at 1,600 Hz. The grinding operation produced a relatively uniform surface in relation to these properties despite the varying preexisting conditions across the CRCP.