3.6: Pavement Distress Examples
- Page ID
- 21122
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Alligator Cracking
![Screen Shot 2020-02-21 at 10.33.29 AM.png](https://biz.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/12352/Screen_Shot_2020-02-21_at_10.33.29_AM.png?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=493&height=324)
Block Cracking
![Screen Shot 2020-02-21 at 10.33.43 AM.png](https://biz.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/12353/Screen_Shot_2020-02-21_at_10.33.43_AM.png?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=476&height=292)
Figure 3.9 - Block Cracking in Asphalt Pavements. Source: FHWA, ‘Selection Of Pavement For Recycling And Recycling Strategies’, Public Domain, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/re...g/98042/03.cfm.
Distortions
Distortions are usually caused by corrugations, bumps, sags, and shoving.
They are localized abrupt upward or downward displacements in the pavement surface, series of closely spaced ridges and valleys, or localized longitudinal displacements of the pavement surface.
![Screen Shot 2020-02-21 at 10.33.56 AM.png](https://biz.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/12354/Screen_Shot_2020-02-21_at_10.33.56_AM.png?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=611&height=543)
Longitudinal and Transverse Cracking
Longitudinal cracks are parallel to the pavement’s centerline or laydown direction while transverse cracks are perpendicular.
Longitudinal cracks may be caused by poorly constructed paving lane joints, shrinkage of the asphalt concrete surface due to low temperature, or a reflective crack caused by joints and cracks beneath the surface course.
![Screen Shot 2020-02-21 at 10.34.13 AM.png](https://biz.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/12355/Screen_Shot_2020-02-21_at_10.34.13_AM.png?revision=1)
Figure 3.11 - Longitudinal and Transverse Cracking in Asphalt Pavements. Source: FHWA, ‘Selection Of Pavement For Recycling And Recycling Strategies’, Public Domain, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/re...g/98042/03.cfm.
Patching and Utility Cut Patching
A patch is an area of pavement, which has been replaced with new material to repair the existing pavement. A patch is considered a defect no matter how well it is performing.
![Screen Shot 2020-02-21 at 10.34.28 AM.png](https://biz.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/12356/Screen_Shot_2020-02-21_at_10.34.28_AM.png?revision=1)
Rutting and Depressions
A rut is a depression in the wheel paths.
Rutting stems from a permanent deformation in any of the pavement layers or sub grade, usually caused by consolidated or lateral movement of the materials due to traffic loads.
![Screen Shot 2020-02-21 at 10.34.35 AM.png](https://biz.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/12357/Screen_Shot_2020-02-21_at_10.34.35_AM.png?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=511&height=332)
Figure 3.13 - Rutting and Depressions in Asphalt Pavements. Source: FHWA, ‘Selection Of Pavement For Recycling And Recycling Strategies’, Public Domain, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/re...g/98042/03.cfm.
Weathering and Raveling
Weathering and raveling are the wearing away of the pavement surface. This distress indicates that either the asphalt binder has hardened appreciably or that a poor quality mixture is present.
![Screen Shot 2020-02-21 at 10.34.55 AM.png](https://biz.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/12359/Screen_Shot_2020-02-21_at_10.34.55_AM.png?revision=1)
Figure 3.14 - Weathering and Raveling in Asphalt Pavements. Source: FHWA, ‘Selection Of Pavement For Recycling And Recycling Strategies’, Public Domain, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/re...g/98042/03.cfm.