Partial-depth repair of concrete pavements and bridge decks is a rehabilitation technique that restores localized surface distresses in the upper one-third to one-half of a concrete slab depth. With proper design and construction, partial-depth repair should last as long as the surrounding concrete pavement making it a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to more costly and invasive rehabilitation options. Past studies have identified two major reasons for premature failures of partial depth repairs: (a) inability to achieve and keep adequate bond between the repair and the existing pavement due to improper repair material selection; and (b) incorrect repair dimensions.

To address the incompatibility issues between in-situ concrete and repair material, a previous research project entitled “Material Compatible Repairs (MCR) for Concrete Pavements and Bridge Decks” was conducted as part of IRISE’s first year program. Based on laboratory studies, the research shed light on the importance of using MCRs and best practices to develop a performance engineered repair material (PERM) to be used for the MCR. In this project, extensive and comparative testing is needed to validate and demonstrate the results of this previous research in the field. Concurrently, for the same repairs, investigate the ability of ultrasonic tomography testing to provide reliable information for required partial depth repair dimensions and evaluate bond condition after repair placement.