Best Practices for the Design and Construction of Rigid Pavements

The long-term performance of rigid pavement depends not only on proper pavement design and materials selection, but on good construction practices as well. Poor construction practices have resulted in premature failures of rigid pavement. The construction of a rigid pavement is a fairly complex process. It involves many processes, including proper preparation of the subgrade and base, placing reinforcing bars or dowels, choice and handling of aggregates and other materials, development of concrete mix design, production and transport of the concrete, and placing, finishing, curing, and joint-sawing the concrete. This chapter describes the construction of rigid pavement slabs