University of California Pavement Research Center

The main objective of this series of tests was to investigate the influence of daily temperature variations on the curling of concrete slabs at the edges and corners, and the horizontal opening of joints between slabs in eight HVS tests sections, both with and without the influence of the temperature control chamber. To isolate the effect of temperature, none of the test sections was subjected to HVS loading during this investigation. All readings were taken while the HVS wheel was stationary and raised above the concrete slabs. The second objective was to study the effectiveness of dowels and tie bars in restricting vertical movement and transverse joint opening under the influence of daily temperature fluctuations, and the effect of a 4.3-m versus 3.7-m slab width on the same movements. As with the first objective, the test sections were not subjected to HVS loading during this part of the study