PURPOSES : The purpose of this study was to improve the performance of concrete pavements by decreasing measurement deviations using an Internet of Things (IoT)-based air content measurement device. METHODS : We calculated the properties of concrete which varied according to the air content. For a low measurement deviation, the concrete pavement performed according to the design standard. To confirm the difference in the performance of the concrete pavement for various air contents, we verified the change in the relative dynamic modulus according to the number of freeze–thaw cycles for each value of the air content. In addition, we analyzed the number of durability cracks according to the freeze–thaw cycles in the field. RESULTS : We confirmed that IoT-based measurement equipment improved the performance of pavements without changing their mixing designs or specifications. We confirmed that the performance of concrete pavements changed even with variations in air content within the range of quality standards. Using IoT-based air content management, we confirmed the reduction in concrete pavement durability cracks without changing the mixing design. CONCLUSIONS : We confirmed that IoT-based air-content management improved pavement performance. The feasibility of extending this concept to manage other concrete properties such as the chloride content should be acknowledged. Future research will require laboratory tests to understand the variation in concrete properties with varying air contents and to consider diverse load conditions.
PURPOSES : This study aims to understand the effect of defective dowel bar installation on jointed concrete pavement (JCP), which can cause joint freezing, spalling, cracking, and faulting and finally shorten the lifespan of the pavement. METHODS : A comprehensive field survey was undertaken at an expressway construction site in South Korea to assess dowel bar installation conditions. In addition, finite element (FE) analysis was used to simulate JCP behavior with both vertical and horizontal dowel misalignments. Different temperature conditions, including a change of -55 °C and gradient of -0.1 °C/mm, were integrated into the FE model to examine horizontal slab contraction and simultaneous slab curling. RESULTS : The analysis revealed pronounced slab behaviors under specific temperature changes, particularly when combined with dowel misalignments. The simultaneous effects of horizontal contraction and slab curling owing to temperature changes and gradients became more evident in the presence of dowel misalignments. CONCLUSIONS : The results confirmed that dowel bar misalignment considerably affected the behavior of the JCP, thereby emphasizing the importance of the proper installation of dowel bars.