Diamond grinding is a concrete pavement restoration (CPR) technique that provides a smooth riding surface with the desirable friction characteristics on concrete pavements that have developed excessive roughness. Diamond grinding offers numerous advantages over other rehabilitation alternatives.

Diamond ground surfaces are the solution of choice for producing quiet concrete pavements. For highways, noise mitigation is concerned with protecting the surrounding properties from excess levels of noise. This can be accomplished by three different methods: (1) distance, (2) installation of berms or walls, or (3) controlling the noise source.

Seal/No Seal (SNS) Tech Brief: The two most common reactive sealers are siloxanes and silanes. Silanes are functional monomeric Compounds with four chemical attachments. These tend to have a low viscosity facilitating penetration into the concrete and quicker chemical reactions.

This research project compared the performance of a 0.68-mile long continuously reinforced concrete pavement test section before and after receiving next-generation diamond grinding (NGDG). The test section was transversely tined and located on Loop 610 in Harris County, Houston, Texas. The NGDG surface significantly improved the skid resistance as well as the ride quality of the test section analyzed.

The ACPA conducted OBSI testing of three diamond ground surfaces constructed by Manatts. Three diamond ground surfaces were constructed, a flush ground surface with ¾ c-longitudinal grooving, a conventional diamond ground surface (CDG) with 1/8’ grooves spaced at ¾” c-c, and a CDG section. The OBSI testing indicated the flush ground and grooved surface produced an OBSI Level of 99.1 dBA, the CDG with grooving 100.6 dBA, and the CDG 100.4 dBA.

The ACPA OBSI testing was conducted on MnROADs cells 72, 9, 8, 7 and two sections of diamond grinding on I-94 west of MnROADs near Monticello. Between April and June, 2010 MnROADs constructed an exposed aggregate test section on I-94 WB. In addition to the conventional exposed aggregate section, MnROADs also constructed an NGCS and CDG texture into the westernmost 495 feet of the exposed aggregate section. This is the first time an NGCS section has been constructed on an exposed aggregate texture. The NGCS is located in the travel lane while the CDG texture is located in the high speed lane adjacent to the NGCS section.