University of California Pavement Research Center

This technical memorandum includes a literature review about the factors that may lead to early-age and premature cracking of jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCPs). The review shows that many factors are involved and that many different circumstances can result in these types of cracking. In most of the cases reported in the literature, the early-age and premature cracking were related to poor construction practices. The early-age cracking of JPCP has already received considerable attention, and there is agreement regarding the mechanisms that result in this type of cracking and about the practices recommended to reduce it. The current version of the Caltrans Standard Specifications addresses most of these practices, but Caltrans specifications for paving in adverse weather conditions are not completely clear. Unlike the causes of early-age cracking on JPCP, premature cracking of JPCP has not been studied extensively. Further, even though it is widely recognized that the early-age condition of concrete has an impact on mid- and long-term JPCP performance, very few studies have focused on determining what that impact is.