CGN6506: 6506:BITUMINOUSMATERIALS T i Topic:

CRACKING IN ASPHALT PAVEMENTS

Presented by: Anh Tu Do

Dec 2010

Introduction
Cracks occur from a variety of causes including stresses from axle loads, temperature changes in th HMA layer, the l or moisture i t and d temperature t t changes in an underlying layer. It is i important i t t to t accurately t l identify id tif the th type t of f cracking which a pavement exhibits in order to accurately assess the causes for the cracking and subsequently the proper repair techniques. The types of cracking being discussed include fatigue, low temperature, longitudinal, block, reflection, and slippage.

Types, causes and repair of cracking

Fatigue Cracking Low temperature p Cracking g Longitudinal Cracking Block Cracking Reflection Cracking Slippage Cracking

Fatigue Cracking

pavementinteractive.org

Fatigue cracking is often called alligator cracking because this closely spaced crack pattern is similar to the pattern on an alligators back.

Fatigue Cracking

www8.dotd.louisiana.gov

This type of failure generally occurs when the pavement has been stressed to the limit of its fatigue life by repetitive axle load applications.

Fatigue Cracking
Causes of Fatigue cracking:
too heavy loads more repetitions of a given load than provided for in design. repetitive passes with overweight trucks and/or inadequate pavement thickness due to improper design or poor quality control during construction

Consequence:

development of potholes when the individual pieces of HMA physically separate from the adjacent material and are di l d d from dislodged f the th pavement t surface f by b the th action ti of f traffic t ffi

Fatigue Cracking
Investigation:
needed prior to repair of a pavement with fatigue cracking determines the cause of the problem so that a proper solution can be selected may involve digging a pit to determine the thickness of all pavement layers p of the layers y can be obtained Samples

Fatigue Cracking
Repair strategies for fatigue cracking: typically involve
Removal & replacement
If the cracking is localized the damaged areas can be removed and replaced prior to overlay Another option is to place a thick overlay over the area that is fatigue cracked

Low temperature Cracking

http://whrpnews.org http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/partnerships/

Low temperature cracks: transverse cracks which generally run perpendicular to the roadway centerline and are often ft approximately i t l equally ll spaced d

Low temperature Cracking

http://whrpnews.org http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/partnerships/

Occur: when the temperature at the surface drops sufficiently to produce a thermally induced shrinkage stress t i the in th HMA layer l th t exceeds that d the th t tensile il strength t th of the asphalt mixture

Low temperature Cracking

http://whrpnews.org http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/partnerships/

Usually initiate at the top of the HMA and propagate downward through the mixtures.

Low temperature Cracking

Controlling the occurrence of thermal cracking:
select a PG graded asphalt that has desirable low temperature properties

Repair:
t typically i ll sealed l d with ith a liquid li id asphalt h lt or other th type t of f sealing li material (ASTM D5078 and D3405) When the sides of the crack are at different elevations, grinding has been performed to minimize the bump at the crack, thereby improving the ride quality If cracking ki becomes b t severe, the too th pavement t may have h t to be overlaid with adequate thickness of HMA to resist reflective cracking

Longitudinal Cracking

http://www.asphaltinstitute.org

Longitudinal cracks are individual cracks that basically run parallel to the centerline of the roadway

Longitudinal Cracking

http://www.asphaltinstitute.org

often occur at the joint between adjacent lanes of asphalt mixture or at the edges of the wheel paths on high traffic volume roads

Longitudinal Cracking

http://www.asphaltinstitute.org

These cracks allow water to penetrate into the underlying l layers, softening ft i layers l th t have that h not t been b stabilized t bili d with ith asphalt or other materials and accelerating the development of fatigue cracks

Longitudinal Cracking

http://www.asphaltinstitute.org

Sometimes longitudinal cracks develop in the mat as a result lt of f improper i placement l t and d compaction ti d i during construction

Longitudinal Cracking

http://www.asphaltinstitute.org

The longitudinal cracks between adjacent lanes can be i l d d by included b low l t temperature, t since i th density the d it at t the th joint j i t between paving lanes is lower than the remainder of the mat, resulting in low tensile strength at the joint

Longitudinal Cracking

http://www.asphaltinstitute.org

Poor adhesion between the asphalt and the aggregate can aggravate t the th problem bl adjacent dj t to t longitudinal l it di l cracking ki and cause more rapid deterioration

Longitudinal Cracking

http://www.asphaltinstitute.org

Longitudinal cracks at the edges of the wheel path are most t often ft caused d by b heavy h l d or high loads hi h tire ti pressures applied in the wheel path

Longitudinal Cracking
Repair:
During early stages, these cracks are most often repaired by sealing After raveling begins to develop, the repair is more extensive By the time the cracks begin to ravel, extensive. ravel an overlay is usually the best solution if the amount of raveling is extensive

Block Cracking

http://training.ce.washington.edu/ http://www pvpc org http://www.pvpc.org

Block cracking: when a HMA layer cracks both longitudinally and transversely in approximately square shapes

Block Cracking

http://training.ce.washington.edu/ http://www pvpc org http://www.pvpc.org

Typically, these cracks are caused by the same factors which cause low temperature cracking

Block Cracking

http://training.ce.washington.edu/ http://www pvpc org http://www.pvpc.org

The block cracking pattern most often develops on facilities which carry low traffic volumes

Block Cracking
Repair: can be very expensive
Often the old surface is removed by milling and overlaid with a new or recycled HMA material Cutting out the damaged material at the cracks and replacing with virgin HMA is seldom satisfactory since the pavement shrinks and cracks in the old pavement material with the next cycle of cold temperatures. Less costly repair strategies are usually used until the entire surface can be replaced Either a thick overlay is placed on the existing surface, some type of method to reduce reflective cracking is used or the old material is removed and replaced with used, a new HMA surface

Reflection Cracking

training.ce.washington.edu

Reflection cracks are caused by discontinuities in the underlying layers which propagate through the HMA surface due to movement at the crack

Reflection Cracking
Reflection cracks may be caused by:
Cracks or joints in an underlying concrete pavement Low temperature cracks in the old HMA surface Block cracks induced by y the old HMA surface or those included by subgrade soil cracking due to shrinkage whether stabilized or not Longitudinal L it di l cracks k in i the th old ld surface; f or Fatigue cracks in the old surface

Reflection Cracking
One technique that has been successfully used to prevent the recurrence of these cracks is rubblizing the concrete slab before overlaying with HMA Another process that has been used to treat reflective cracks over concrete pavement is to saw cut through the HMA overlay directly over the existing joints in the concrete.
These cuts are made shortly after construction and before the reflection cracks develop. This technique cannot be applied to random cracks in the concrete pavement

Slippage Cracking

http://www.asphaltinstitute.org

Slippage cracks typically occur as a result of poor bond between the HMA surface and the underlying layer These cracks most often show up first in areas where vehicles brake, turn, or accelerate

Slippage Cracking
Repair:
The only repair for areas with slippage cracks is removal and replacement of the material in the slipped area, -> ensure that a proper bond between the old surface and the new HMA material is obtained. Removal of the existing slipped material with a milling machine results in a rough surface texture -> that should help provide good bond when overlaid. The material must be removed to a depth slightly b l below th point the i t at t which hi h slippage li h occurred. has d

Thank you & Any questions?