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Use of Microcracking to Reduce Shrinkage Cracking in Cement-Treated Bases

Shrinkage cracking occurs in cement-treated bases because of desiccation and cement hydration; eventually these cracks start to reflect through the pavement surfacing. Although initially considered cosmetic, these cracks open the pavement to water infiltration and increase the likelihood of accelerated pavement distress. Numerous options exist for minimizing the amount of reflective cracks that appear; microcracking is a promising approach. The microcracking concept can be defined as the application of several vibratory roller passes to the cement-treated base at a short curing stage, typically after 1 to 3 days, to create a fine network of cracks. In addition to the microcracked test sites, the contractor constructed moist-cured, dry-cured, and asphalt membrane–cured sites for comparison. Researchers used falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests to control the microcracking process, periodic crack surveys to monitor crack performance, and FWD tests through time to track base moduli. Microcracking proved quite effective at reducing shrinkage cracking problems in the base; applying the procedure with three passes of the roller after 2 to 3 days of curing resulted in the best performance. In addition, researchers observed that, without microcracking, excessively high cement contents resulted in problematic cracking in the base even if they were cured according to good construction practice. Microcracking did not result in pavement damage or diminished inservice modulus; thus, microcracking should be considered a viable and inexpensive option to incorporate shrinkage crack control into the construction of cement-treated bases.