Pavement Management Field Guide to Road Surface Distresses · Pavement Management Field Guide to...
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Pavement Management Field Guide to Road Surface Distresses Prepared in conjunction with the Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (CMMPO) Transportation Management Systems Programs June 2006 The preparation of this document has been financed in part through a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, under Contract #4034019 with the Massachusetts Highway Department.
Transcript of Pavement Management Field Guide to Road Surface Distresses · Pavement Management Field Guide to...
Pavement Management Field Guide to Road Surface Distresses
Prepared in conjunction with the
Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (CMMPO)
Transportation Management Systems Programs
June 2006
The preparation of this document has been financed in part through a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, under Contract #4034019 with the Massachusetts Highway Department.
CONTENTS
Potholes....................................................................................................... 1 Distortions................................................................................................... 2 Bleeding/Polished Aggregate..................................................................... 3 Alligator Cracking ....................................................................................... 4 Transverse/Longitudinal Cracking ............................................................. 5 Block Cracking ............................................................................................ 6 Rutting ........................................................................................................ 7 Surface Wear/Raveling .............................................................................. 8 Corrugations/Shoving/Slippage ................................................................ 9
Potholes -A road-surface distress characterized by deep, open gaps in pavement surface-
Generally formed from other distresses (i.e. cracks, surface wear, etc.)
Low Severity Pothole— Pothole is noticeably present.
Medium Severity Pothole—Pothole needs remedial attention soon.
High Severity Pothole— Pothole needs immediate maintenance.
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Distortions
-Road-surface distresses with noticeable effects on rideablity-
Low Severity Distortion—Noticeable bumps while driving.
Medium Severity Distortion—May cause driver to slow slightly.
High Severity Distortion—Driver cannot travel at posted speed.
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Bleeding/Polished Aggregate -The separation of the gravel components from the adhesive tar within the pavement mixture.-
Bleeding is characterized by dark, blotchy patches on the road surface. Polished aggregate is where the surface aggregate becomes worn and polished.
Low Severity Bleeding/Polished Aggregate—Distress is noticeably present.
High Severity Bleeding/Polished Aggregate— Distress may reduce skid resistance and thereby pose a safety hazard to drivers.
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Low Severity Bleeding
Low Severity Polished Aggregate
Alligator Cracking -Cracks caused by the degradation of the road’s sub-base-
This load-induced distress is found in vehicular wheel-paths and is often associated with rutting.
Low Severity—Cracks are just visible.
Medium Severity—Cracks are deeper and wider.
High Severity—Potholes are beginning to form.
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Transverse and Longitudinal Cracking -A road-surface distress characterized by cracks running either parallel (longitudinal) or
perpendicular (transverse) to the travel lanes.-
Low Severity—Cracks are just visible
Medium Severity—Cracks begin to form “branch-like” formations, breaking off into smaller cracks.
High Severity—Crack widths are significant and potholes may be start-ing to form.
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Block Cracking -A road-surface distress characterized by the meeting of transverse and longitudinal cracks,
forming “blocks” measuring 10’ x10’ or smaller-
Low Severity—Cracks are just visible.
Medium Severity— Cracks begin to form “branch-like” formations, breaking off into smaller cracks. “Block” size may be considerably smaller than the 10’x10’ limit.
High Severity—Crack widths are significant and potholes may be starting to form.
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Rutting -A distress caused by the road’s inability to consistently handle the weight of traveling vehicles- Caused by the degradation of the road’s sub-base, rutting is found in the vehicular wheel-paths
Low Severity—Rut measures 1/4” to 1/2” in depth.
Medium Severity—Rut measures 1/2” to 3/2” in depth.
High Severity—Rut depth is greater than 3/2”.
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Surface Wear and Raveling -A road-surface distress characterized by a wearing away of the pavement surface-
Low Severity—Loose particles have broken away from the pavement surface.
High Severity—Sections of pavement are missing. High severity surface wear is often characterized as delamination, revealing previous layers of pavement.
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Corrugations, Shoving, and Slippage -Road-surface distresses caused by the impact of vehicles on pavement mix that was
inadequately designed or was not sufficiently ready for traffic loads-
Corrugations— Corrugations are charac-terized by a succession of ripples in the pavement felt within the vehicle as vibra-tions. Corrugations are generally found at intersections where vehicles are frequently stopping in the travel lanes.
Shoving— Shoving is usually found at road bends and intersections, where the weight of the vehicles “shoves” the soft pavement surface.
Slippage— Slippage is usually found on hills, and occurs when the pavement surface actually delaminates and slips down the hill.
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Hawaii Asphalt Pavement Industry, 2003, http://www.hawaiiasphalt.com/HAPI/modules/03_general_guidance/03_pavement_distress.htm
Geoplan Consultants, Inc, Pavement Surface Condition Rating Manual, 2002
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission 35 Harvard Street, 2nd Floor Worcester, MA 01609-2801
Voice: (508) 756-7717 Fax: (508) 792-6818
Email: [email protected]
