Abstract
Distress has recently been observed in the joints of some concrete pavements, primarily in the wet-freeze states. This distress often begins in longitudinal joints, followed by transverse joints and results in the significant loss of material from the joint area. Although it may only affect approximately 10% of the concrete pavements system-wide, it greatly reduces the service life and increases maintenance costs of the pavements it effects. Primary issues that emerged from studies on this phenomenon include the importance of the timing of joint sawing, the width of the joint opening, degree of concrete or joint sealing, drainage and degree of saturation of the concrete at the joint, quality of the air void system, role of deicing chemicals, quality of curing, and the degree of restraint at the joint. Although this broad collection of issues implies that we still lack complete understanding of all causes of joint deterioration, it also makes it pretty clear that the observed damage is a result of combination of several factors. This study synthesizes completed research related to concrete pavements joint deterioration and provides information to advance the knowledge and understanding of the variables involved in in this deterioration process and suggests the best practices that can lead to its reduction or mitigation.