2024 Volume 80 Issue 21 Article ID: 24-21027
Tsuruga section is a part of Hokuriku Express Highway and operated by Central Nippon Express Highway Corporation (C-NEXCO). This section has 11 tunnels in about 50 km length. These tunnels were constructed and paved with concrete pavement 45 years ago. The 45 years old concrete pavements are still serving, even though they have been partially repaired. Quite recently, however, severe deteriorations like spalling, faulting, and cracks appear at many transverse joints and some of them should be repaired as early as possible. To grasp the entire joint conditions in this concrete pavement section, FWD tests were 2conducted and FWD data was back calculated with a consideration of joint degradation process. Based on the results, fatigue analysis was performed to estimate the fatigue life of the degraded joints. Then, a reasonable rehabilitation strategy of concrete pavement in tunnel was established. The strategy specifies to restor the degraded joints in order of the least fatigue life.
