NRMCA’s National Resource Directors team reports there is much confusion regarding design of subbase under concrete pavements, with designers often repeating inefficient approaches without much regard for site particulars. As a result, it is good news that there is  a new industry paving resource available to help designers predict faulting to circumvent premature subbase erosion while optimizing the subbase and concrete sections.

With a grant from the RMC Research & Education Foundation, the Texas Transportation Institute has released two reports that addresses use of subbase through testing and documentation based on the primary mechanism of concrete failure – faulting. This saves money due to over design and gives owners the best value as they save money initially during the construction phase and have better performing pavements for minimal longterm maintenance. The NRMCA pavement team will soon be incorporating this methodology in its Design Assistance Program (DAP) recommendations and will house  associated design software that can be utilized on any project.