Investigation into Effects of Temperature Variations on Airport Cement Pavements Based on Measured Data

Abstract:

Using temperature, strain and deflection measured by “Pavement Condition Monitoring System” of Shanghai Pudong International Airport, this study analyzed temperature variation of cement pavements， curling deformation，deflection and load transfer capacity affected by temperature. The results show that daily variation of temperature in the subgrade and base layer is slightly, but seasonal variation is obvious. The temperature distribution along the depth of the slab is nonlinear, and it is more significant in afternoon; the proportion of positive and negative temperature gradients is basically the same throughout the year, and the zero temperature gradient is cyclical throughout the year, concentrating in the period from 7:00 to 10:00 and 19:00 to 22:00. In addition, under the effects of temperature, for the middle of the dummy joint, the slab corner and the middle of the groove joint, the curling deformation shows a synchronous periodic change within one day, and the curling deformation at the slab corner is the largest while it is the smallest for the longitudinal joint; it also shows that the maximum upward (downward) curling deformation happens between December and January (July and August) throughout the year. The maximum deflection at the slab center remains basically the stable, while the maximum deflection at the slab corner and the middle of the dummy joint exhibit significant daily and seasonal variations; the load transfer capacity of both dummy and groove joints increases with the increasing of the average temperature and they have a good quadratic relationship. It is suggested considering the effects of temperature on design and evaluation of cement pavements.