# Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavement

Jointed reinforced concrete pavement (JRCP, see Figure 1) uses contraction joints and reinforcing steel to control cracking.

- Canonical URL: https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/pavement-types-and-history/pavement-types/jointed-reinforced-concrete-pavement/
- Last updated: 2021-06-30
- Review: reviewed by licensed professional engineers on the previous Pavement Interactive site, where reviewers were not recorded by name

Jointed reinforced concrete pavement (JRCP, see Figure 1) uses [contraction joints](https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/construction/placement/joints/) and [reinforcing steel](https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/pavement-types-and-history/pavement-types/load-transfer/) to control cracking. Transverse joint spacing is longer than that for JPCP and typically ranges from about 7.6 m (25 ft.) to 15.2 m (50 ft.). Temperature and moisture stresses are expected to cause cracking between joints, hence reinforcing steel or a steel mesh is used to hold these cracks tightly together. [Dowel bars](https://pavementinteractive.org/glossary/dowel-bar/) are typically used at transverse joints to assist in [load transfer](https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/pavement-types-and-history/pavement-types/load-transfer/) while the reinforcing steel/wire mesh assists in load transfer across cracks.

![Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavement (JRCP)](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/jrcp.gif)

*Figure 1.* Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavement (JRCP)

## Properties

### Crack Control

[Contraction joints](https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/design/structural-design/joint-design/) as well as [reinforcing steel](https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/pavement-types-and-history/pavement-types/reinforcing-steel/).

### Joint Spacing

Longer than JPCP and up to a maximum of about 15 m (50 ft.). Due to the nature of concrete, the longer slabs associated with JRCP will crack.

### Reinforcing Steel

A minimal amount is included mid-slab to hold cracks tightly together. This can be in the form of deformed reinforcing bars or a thick wire mesh.

### Load Transfer

Dowel bars and reinforcing steel. Dowel bars assist in load transfer across transverse joints while reinforcing steel assists in load transfer across mid-panel cracks.

### Other Info

During construction of the interstate system, most agencies in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. built JRCP. Today only a handful of agencies employ this design (ACPA, 2001).

In general, JRCP has fallen out of favor because of inferior performance when compared to JPCP and [CRCP](https://pavementinteractive.org/glossary/crcp/).