Slab Warping or Unevenness
If you have slab warping or unevenness, you need to perform:
Conventional Diamond Grinding (CDG)
Conventional diamond grinding (CDG) is often used to create the smoothest and safest pavements available today. It is
appropriate for both new construction and existing pavement and can be performed at any time during a pavement’s life.
Diamond grinding removes a thin layer of the hardened concrete surface using a self-propelled machine outfitted with a series of closely spaced diamond saw blades mounted on a rotating shaft. Unlike diamond-impregnated carbide bits, which use impact to chip away the concrete surface, CDG blades use abrasion to gently remove the surface layer without the risk of introducing microcracking of the aggregates. After diamond grinding, the pavement texture consists of grooves and lands, with the grooves lying beneath the pavement interface.
CDG has been in use since the 1960s, with nearly 20 million square yards of pavement diamond ground each year in the United States alone. In addition to using CDG to improve the performance of existing, in-service pavements, several state Departments of Transportation specify diamond ground surfaces as the final surface on newly placed portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP).
Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS)
Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) is the quietest non-porous concrete pavement surface available. NGCS is a hybrid texture that resembles a combination of diamond grinding and longitudinal grooving. It consists of a uniform land profile design with essentially an all-negative texture. Despite its flatter, smoother riding surface compared to traditional portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP), the NGCS still possesses and maintains reliable microtexture (friction) when constructed with quality aggregates. The longitudinal grooves provide substantial macrotexure and increase resistance to hydroplaning by providing escape channels that allow water to move out of the tire contact patch area.
Resources
Diamond Grinding: Production or Bump Grind
The comparative benefits of production grinding versus bump grinding are explored in this study for optimizing pavement performance and cost-efficiency. Diamond grinding is emphasized as a crucial technique for smoothing pavement surfaces, with production grinding covering the entire lane width and length to achieve superior results in ride quality, friction, sound reduction, fuel efficiency and aesthetics. While bump grinding—targeting only uneven areas—can improve ride quality and extend pavement life, production grinding often proves more economical and effective overall.
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Fact Sheet
City/Municipal, Highway
Concrete Pavement Preservation and Restoration, Diamond Grinding, Dowel Bar Retrofit, Full & Partial Depth Repair
Friction/Safety, Smoothness, Sustainability/Environmental, Tire/Pavement Noise
Diamond Grinding
This summary of a Missouri Department of Transportation's (MoDOT) case study highlights the use of diamond grinding to extend the life of jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCP) and jointed reinforced concrete pavements (JRCP) in Missouri. The technique, combined with joint resealing and crack resealing, effectively reduces the International Roughness Index (IRI) by 20 to 80 percent. It also provides a smooth surface, good friction, and noise reduction, with some pavements lasting up to 50 years.
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Technical Info
Bridge, City/Municipal, Highway
Diamond Grinding
Friction/Safety, Smoothness, Structural/Material Issues
Diamond Grinding to Reduce Tire-Pavement Noise in Concrete Pavements
This brief explores the benefits of diamond grinding in lowering tire-pavement noise, traditionally viewed as a method to restore pavement smoothness and friction. By creating grooves and lands through controlled abrasion, diamond grinding enhances water drainage and ensures safer driving conditions. Additionally, the technique has proven effective as a final surface texture for newly paved roads, producing more consistent, smoother and quieter surfaces than conventional methods.
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Technical Info
Bridge, City/Municipal, Highway
Diamond Grinding
Friction/Safety, Smoothness, Tire/Pavement Noise
Diamond Grinding of Concrete Road Pavements in Australia
M1 Motorway between Sydney and Newcastle, Australia was among several road and tunnel pavements where diamond grinding was first introduced. Applied on various road classifications and tunnel pavements, including an 8km section of the M1 Motorway between Sydney and Newcastle, the technique was extended to other Australian states. The earliest application has shown no measurable loss of smoothness or texture after ten years of Motorway traffic.
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Technical Info
City/Municipal, Highway
Diamond Grinding
Friction/Safety, Smoothness, Structural/Material Issues, Tire/Pavement Noise
Concrete Repair Best Practices
Concrete pavement restoration (CPR) techniques have gained greater national significance as DOT agencies attempt to further extend infrastructure service lives prior to required major rehabilitation or reconstruction. This report consolidates best practice case studies for six CPR techniques: cross stitching, dowel bar retrofit, diamond grinding, full depth repair, partial depth repair and slab stabilization.
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Technical Info
City/Municipal, Highway
Concrete Pavement Preservation and Restoration, Diamond Grinding, Dowel Bar Retrofit, Full & Partial Depth Repair, Joint and Crack Resealing
Structural/Material Issues
