Paper Title
Concrete Overlay as a Possible Solution to Damaged Concrete Pavement at The Durban Container Terminal
Abstract
Concrete overlays for concrete pavement have not been used locally, but there is extensive
experience of the method abroad and particularly in the USA, where concrete as a paving material in port
terminals, airports and highways remains popular. Asphalt overlays have been used more extensively locally,
and recently in the Gauteng Freeway improvement programme, where both unreinforced, jointed and
continuously reinforced, un-jointed pavements have been overlaid. For container terminals, asphalt overlays are
not an option because of the high loading applied, particularly in the container stacks. The method proposed for
the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) is therefore for a reinforced concrete overlay. Alternatives using steel or
polypropylene fibres have been investigated but have not been pursued because of cost and other considerations.
Given that the bulk of the terminal paving is intact, and severely stressed areas either have been, or are
programmed to be repaired, the construction of an overlay is an option as construction time is minimized,
resulting in reduced terminal disruption, the remaining capacity of the existing pavement is utilized,
construction cost is lower than reconstruction and this option is more environmentally acceptable.
Index terms: Concrete overlays, Paving, Construction of an overlay, Damaged concrete pavement.