Evaluation of the bonding and fatigue properties of an innovative rapid repair structure for concrete pavement

•An innovative rapid repair structure for concrete pavement was proposed.•The feasibility and effectiveness of the innovative rapid repair structure were analyzed.•The rapid repair structure meets the requirements for semi-permanent concrete pavement repair.•The rapid repair structure proposed in this paper is a promising alternative in full-depth repair of concrete pavement. Deterioration and damage of pavements require rapid and durable full-depth repair. This study proposes an innovative rapid repair structure for the incorporation of precast slabs, graded gravel bases, and grouting technology in concrete pavements. Two representative grouting materials and two types of graded gravel bases with different particle size compositions were selected to construct four types of rapid repair structures. Static stepwise loading, fatigue loading, and lateral loading tests were conducted to evaluate both the effectiveness and feasibility of the rapid repair structures by measuring deformation, strain, and pressure as well as by examining the failure modes of the repair structures. The results indicated that the high strength grouting material contributes to the mechanical properties and bonding performance of the repair structure. Moreover, a well-compacted base is critical for the deformation uniformity of the repair structures and a graded gravel base with large particle size provides firm support, which is conducive to the infiltration of grouting material. The rapid repair structure proposed in this work not only reduces the time and cost required to re-open traffic, but also meets the requirements of a semi-permanent repair of concrete pavement. However, a full-scale investigation needs to be conducted to assess the mechanical properties for rapid repair structure.