In order to circumvent the disadvantages of the conventional cracking and seating technique a new approach is proposed for rehabilitation of Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements using abrasive water jet. This approach focuses on controlled and uniform fragmentation of the PCC pavement substrate initiated by previously cut slots using abrasive water jet (AWJ). Initially a parametric study is conducted in order to quantify the influence of the AWJ cutting parameters on the depth of cut on the PCC slabs. Subsequently, detailed investigation of the virtual crack propagation in the PCC slab slotted with abrasive water jet is conducted using finite element modeling technique to evaluate the best geometry of slotting. The stress distribution and nature of crack initiation and crack propagation with varying loads for several depths of slots are evaluated for different slot geometries and compared with that of a concrete slab without any prior slots. The results indicate that diagonal slots not only provide uniform size fragments and crack patterns extending through the entire thickness, eliminating spalling, crack fanning and shattering, but also, preserve the structural strength of the substrate.
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