Abstract

An urban arterial, collector or local street must be geometrically and functionally designed, i.e. not only considering the occupation of the physical space but also the capacity and level of service provided, that is directly related with the perception of the user. The pavement is an element of the urban infrastructure that also has a fundamental effect on the perception of the user, for instance on the ride quality (regularity and skid resistance of the surface), visibility and especially on the interventions for maintenance, rehabilitation or reconstruction. These interventions produce delays, discomfort and even can affect the users safety. Accordingly, in the evaluation of an urban pavement, a functional perspective is fundamental because it is related directly with the users. And the provision of adequate serviceability for the user must be the final goal of the urban infrastructure for an habitable and sustainable city. Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements (JPCPs) are an interesting alternative for urban pavements, but the election of concrete as material for pavements is limited when only the construction costs are considered in the analysis. However, the development of the design of JPCPs includes innovations as shorter slabs, unsealed joints and overlays that can reduce the construction costs even up to 30%. The objective of the present paper is to evaluate these innovations from a perspective of the users of urban pavements. Accordingly, the evaluation is made using a functional approach and considering factors as urban functional classification, safety, comfort, functional deterioration (spalling, joint faulting and surface irregularity) and invasive interventions of maintenance, rehabilitation or even reconstruction. It is concluded that innovations in JPCPs as short slabs, unsealed joints and overlays can be a contribution for sustainable and habitable cities. In fact, these innovations are economically viable alternatives for a safe and comfortable experience of the users of urban pavements, because they do not need invasive interventions of maintenance, rehabilitation or even reconstruction in their life cycle (usually 15 - 20 years). These favourable conditions for the users are possible due to the concrete durability and the design of these innovations that result in less functional deterioration and a lower IRI (International Roughness Index) that is directly related with the perception of the users of the pavements.