New Structural Systems for Zero-Maintenance Pavements

Unique and infrequently used concepts and systems suitable for zero-maintenance pavements are identified. For this study, a zero-maintenance pavement is defined as one that will provide at least 20 years of maintenance-free operation and at least 10 more years of routine maintenance operation on a high volume road. Based on the criterian and guidelines established in this study, seven innovative concepts and one modified conventional system are presented and discussed. Detailed analytical investigation of one of the seven concepts is presented. The environmental and mechanical load imposed stresses are analyzed for an anchored pavement and a conventional slab and comparisons are presented. The study concludes that since a significant portion of pavement distress mechanism is contributed by subgrade failure, the transmission of loads to a deeper zone within the subgrade would considerably reduce related failure.