The rubber that stops cracks in their tracks

Concrete pavement joints are essential for maintaining the structural integrity and longevity of pavement by controlling where and how the pavement cracks. These joints can be categorized based on their functions, such as contraction or control joints, construction joints, isolation joints, and expansion joints.
Contraction joints are typically formed by sawing a groove into the concrete shortly after it has hardened. This creates a weakened vertical plane, deliberately encouraging cracking at...

Abrasion resistance is an essential characteristic of concrete that determines its durability and longevity under various wear conditions. Concrete surfaces are vulnerable to different types of abrasion. For instance, surfaces may wear down due to the constant movement of vehicles or be eroded by solids carried in water, as seen in concrete canal linings. Specific tests are conducted to measure the abrasion resistance of concrete.
One such test is the revolving disc test, where three plates...

Air-entraining agents improve the durability and workability of concrete in climates with frequent freezing and thawing. These agents prevent cracks by introducing small air bubbles into the mix, creating spaces accommodating water expansion when temperatures drop. The air-entraining agents lower the surface tension of water, forming stable, small air bubbles. This method is more effective than having accidental large voids, as the intentional, smaller, and evenly distributed air voids improve...

Rolling resistance, also known as rolling friction, is the force that resists the motion of a rolling object, such as a wheel, tire, or ball, when it moves over a surface. It is caused by the deformation of the object and the surface in contact with each other, as well as other factors like internal friction, hysteresis, and energy losses within the materials. Rolling resistance opposes the object's motion, requiring additional energy to overcome it and maintain movement. In practical...