This study evaluates environmental impact factor emissions generated by three concrete-pavement methods. Specifically, internationally commercialized programs are used to calculate the environmental impact factors of selected domestic concrete-pavement projects, thereby identifying areas requiring improvement. This study quantified the material usage and energy consumption associated with the construction and maintenance of three concrete-pavement methods. Using internationally commercialized software, this study evaluated the emissions of environmental impact factors for jointed concrete, continuously reinforced concrete, and mechanized continuously reinforced concrete pavements under three assumed maintenance scenarios for each method. Analysis of the environmental impact factors over a 30-year period under three maintenance scenarios (Cases A, B, and C) shows that, for the three pavement methods, the construction phase is dominant— constituting 70%–99%—across most impact categories, including global warming, smog formation, acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity, ecological toxicity, and respiratory effects. This study analyzes the environmental impact factors during the construction and maintenance processes of three concrete-pavement types using foreign LCI databases and identifies the environmental impacts of each input material. In the future, if LCI and LCIA databases for domestic road pavement materials are established and analyses are conducted based on the conditions presented in this study, then a foundation can be realized for the development of environmentally friendly materials and methods.

In response to the contemporary demands of the construction industry for climate-change action and carbon neutrality, this study conducts a comprehensive analysis of the applicability of Portland limestone cement (PLC)—a notable sustainable alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC)—for highway pavement applications. PLC is an eco-friendly material that reduces carbon-dioxide emissions and energy consumption compared with OPC by reducing the clinker ratio in its manufacturing process. This study examines the fundamental physical and chemical mechanisms of PLC concrete and compares its mechanical performance and durability characteristics with those of OPC concrete. The results indicate that PLC concrete exhibits performance levels equivalent to or superior to those of OPC in key metrics such as compressive and flexural strengths, with particularly outstanding performance in durability aspects such as chloride-penetration resistance. However, the potential for early-age cracking and compatibility issues with certain admixtures are identified as challenges that must be addressed for the wider field application of PLC concrete. Thus, this study proposes the integration of nanotechnology to overcome these technical limitations and maximize performance. Specifically, methods to significantly improve the strength, abrasion resistance, fatigue resistance, and crack-control performance by utilizing nanomaterials such as Nano- , Nano- , and graphene oxide ( ) to control the microstructure of PLC concrete are presented. Finally, a comprehensive roadmap is proposed to enhance the field applicability of PLC concrete for highway pavements and contribute to the construction of sustainable social infrastructure through three key strategies: mix design optimization, consideration of regional environmental conditions, and integration of nanotechnology.

The objective of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the effect of pavement aging on the blow-up occurrence temperature of jointed concrete pavements. Pavement aging reduces the effective joint width through joint deterioration and infiltration of incompressible materials, thus decreasing the trigger temperature for pavement growth (TTPG). The TTPG is defined as the concrete temperature at which all transverse contraction joints within the expansion joint system are completely closed and the slabs begin to behave as a single structural unit. Once the maximum concrete temperature (Tmax) exceeds the TTPG, the temperature difference (ΔT = Tmax−TTPG, i.e., the effective temperature) results in compressive stresses within the slab, thus initiating the blow-up mechanism. A lower TTPG increases ΔT, thus accelerating thermal expansion and the accumulation of the annual maximum compressive stress. Expansive products generated by the alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and higher coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) further intensify internal compressive stresses, thus inducing blow-up at lower temperatures. Moreover, the subbase type affects the blow-up occurrence temperature owing to the differences in geometric imperfections and the slab–subbase friction. This study employs the pavement growth and blow-up analysis model to estimate blow-up occurrence temperatures, thus explicitly addressing the combined effect of pavement aging, ASR, CTE, and subbase type.

The purpose of this study is to explore the applicability of satellite-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data combined with pavement management system (PMS) indicators for effective road condition monitoring on mountainous local roads. Field survey data, including the International Roughness Index (IRI) and rutting measurements, were used as the ground truth, whereas Sentinel-1 and COSMO-SkyMed SAR images were processed using the time-series InSAR analysis to detect surface displacement and pavement deformations. In addition, a deep learning framework integrating PMS data and SAR imagery was developed, consisting of a swine transformer and CNN–LSTM networks for the classification and localization of pavement defects. The results demonstrated that X-band SAR backscatter values were correlated with IRI variations and that the proposed hybrid two-stage approach (CNN for surface damage and LSTM for rutting) enhanced the accuracy of defect detection compared with conventional single-model approaches. These findings highlight the potential of combining remote sensing and AI-based analysis with existing PMS datasets to provide a cost-effective and scalable solution for road asset management and maintenance prioritization.

This study analyzes the impact of climate change on the performance of continuous reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) and proposes a method to improve the existing KPRP–CRCP design procedure. Our analysis of monthly mean temperature data from the Seoul Meteorological Station revealed a general increase in temperature from 2001 to 2034, with a more significant increase observed during summer and winter. The existing KPRP–CRCP design method uses the drop temperature (DT) as a key variable. Notably, the increasing monthly mean temperatures owing to climate change tend to decrease the DT that in turn lowers the maximum stress on the pavement slab. This leads to a significant problem: if the traditional design method based on outdated data is used, the predicted number of punchouts will be lower than expected. This can result in an over-reduction in the reinforcement ratio and slab thickness, leading to premature failure and increased maintenance costs. To solve this issue, we introduced a predictive model for the final setting temperature that accounts for monthly and regional characteristics. Applying this model showed that as the temperature increased, the DT and maximum stress proportionally increased. This provided a more realistic prediction of the number of punchouts and addressed the flaws of the existing design method. Furthermore, our analysis of punchout counts based on the construction start month using this predictive model revealed that punchouts were more frequent in summer (July–August) and less frequent in winter (January–February). Based on this, we determined that the optimal seasons for placing continuous reinforced concrete pavements were spring (March–June) and fall (September–November). In situations where the actual construction start month was unknown, we recommended using a conservative design approach based on the design in August, when punchouts were most likely to occur.

This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the life cycle carbon emissions of continuously reinforced concrete pavements on Korean expressways. The analysis focuses on assessing the effect of the changes in pavement design life and maintenance frequency on total carbon emissions to provide a basis for effective carbon reduction strategies. In accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, carbon emissions were calculated using actual design documents, including bills of quantities and unit price lists. National emission factors were applied to each life cycle stage, including the maintenance stage that was modeled based on the standard maintenance scenarios of the Korea Expressway Corporation. The study also conducted a scenario-based evaluation to examine the impact of extending the pavement design life from 20 to 30 years on maintenance-related emissions. The usage stage accounted for the largest share of total emissions, followed by the material production and maintenance stages. Notably, repeated asphalt overlay maintenance contributed significantly to emissions. Extending the design life reduced the number of high-emission maintenance activities, leading to a significant reduction in the total life cycle emissions. Extending the pavement design life and optimizing maintenance cycles were effective strategies for reducing the life cycle carbon emissions in road infrastructure. Furthermore, applying eco-design principles—such as incorporating recycled aggregates or low-carbon cement during the design stage—could further enhance sustainability. Future research should include various case studies and support the development of standardized national life cycle inventory databases for road infrastructure systems.

This study investigated the vertical displacement behavior caused by differential drying shrinkage in jointed concrete pavements. This study proposed a method to convert this behavior into an equivalent linear temperature difference for structural analysis. Controlled experiments were conducted under varying humidity and airflow conditions to simulate pavement environments. The test results showed that a lower relative humidity and added airflow significantly increased the vertical displacement, particularly at the slab edges. A 3D finite element model using ABAQUS was developed to analyze the behavior and derive the equivalent linear temperature difference that increased with curing age and varied notably with environmental conditions. These findings highlighted the impact of early-age environmental factors on the shrinkage behavior and suggested that the proposed method offered a practical approach for predicting deformation without repeated physical testing.

Wet pavement friction decreases with an increase in water film thickness (WFT), leading to a significant increase in vehicle crashes. The British pendulum test described in ASTM E303-93 is a method used to measure the pavement friction under wet conditions for the input of geometric design and pavement management systems. The British pendulum number (BPN) under wet conditions varies with WFT. Following the ASTM E303-93 standard procedure, WFT was simulated by spraying water onto the pavement surface. However, the measurement of the BPN did not include specific information regarding the WFT present during testing. To address these issues, WFTs and BPNs are measured using artificial rainfall generated by a rainfall simulator across various intensities, drainage lengths, pavement slopes, and pavement surfaces. This study aims to investigate the influence of the WFT on the BPN for wet pavement friction and provide the WFT corresponding to each BPN measurement for different surface types. The BPNs and WFTs of three test slabs, including diamond grooving and tining surfaces with 16 mm and 25 mm spacing, were measured under wet conditions by spraying water and creating WFTs using a rainfall simulator. Measurements were taken in both longitudinal and transverse directions, considering different rainfall intensities (40 mm/h, 80 mm/h, and 130 mm/h), pavement slopes (2%, 5%, and 10%), and drainage path lengths (1 m, 2 m, 3 m, 4 m, and 5 m). The test results indicated that wet pavement friction decreased as the WFT increased that was influenced by several factors including the pavement slope, mean texture depth, rainfall intensity, and drainage path length. Specifically, the WFT tended to increase with a decrease in the pavement slope and an increase in the mean texture depth, rainfall intensity, and drainage path length. In particular, surface texture played a significant role in the wet friction performance, with diamond-grooved pavements. Among the tested surfaces, the diamond-grooved (longitudinal and transverse) pavements demonstrated a more effective wet friction performance, maintaining higher BPN values across varying WFT levels. Conversely, longitudinally and transversely tined surfaces with 25 mm spacing showed a more significant decrease in BPN, reflecting a higher sensitivity to WFT. In contrast, tined surfaces with 16-mm spacing exhibited a more gradual reduction in friction, likely owing to enhanced drainage and better resistance to water-induced friction loss. Additionally, these results indicated that longitudinal textures demonstrated a more significant reduction in friction with increasing WFT compared with transverse textures. This demonstrated that the texture type, direction, and spacing significantly influenced the friction loss under wet conditions, with diamond grooving offering the best overall performance. This study highlighted the critical role of WFT in pavement friction design, emphasizing the need to consider the WFT for a more accurate assessment of wet pavement friction. The WFT was influenced by factors such as the pavement slope, rainfall intensity, drainage path length, and surface texture. The diamond-grooved pavements demonstrated a more effective wet friction performance, maintaining higher BPN values across varying WFT levels. In contrast, tined surfaces with larger spacings exhibited more significant friction loss, whereas those with smaller spacings showed a more gradual reduction, likely owing to better drainage. In particular, longitudinal textures showed a greater reduction in friction compared with transverse textures. Overall, the texture type, direction, and spacing played crucial roles in wet friction performance, with diamond grooving offering the best results.