Pavement Deterioration
Pavement distresses or deterioration is the process by which distress develop in the pavement under
the combined effects of traffic loading and weather with quality of construction.
Types of pavement deterioration
The four major categories of common asphalt pavement surface distresses are:
➢ Cracking
➢ Surface deformation
➢ Disintegration such as potholes
➢ Surface defects such as bleeding
Cracking:
Fatigue cracking: Fatigue cracking is commonly called alligator cracking. This is a series of
interconnected cracks creating small, irregular shaped pieces of pavement. It is due to failure of surface
layer or base by repeated traffic loading, also due to drainage problem. The final result is potholes.
Longitudinal cracking: It is long crack that run parallel to the centre line of the roadway. This may be
due to frost heaving or joint failure.
Transverse cracking: It is form at approximately right angles to the centerline of the roadway.
Transverse cracks are initiated as hairline or very narrow cracks and widen with age. It is due to frost
heaving or joint failure, thermal issues associated with low temperature cracking if asphalt or cement is
too hard.
Block cracking: It is an interconnected series of cracks that divides the pavement into irregular pieces. It
is due to combination of transverse and longitudinal cracks’ interaction. It is also lack of compaction
during construction. It can be repaired by
➢ Using a thin wearing course
➢ Overlays and recycling
➢ Reconstruction if base problem is found.
Slippage cracking: It is half moon shaped cracks with both ends pointed towards the oncoming vehicles.
It is created by the horizontal forces from traffic. It is generally a result of poor bonding between surface
layers with base. It is due to lack of tack coat. Repair can be done with
➢ Removal of the slipped area and repaving.
➢ Use a tack coat
Reflective cracking: It occurs when a pavement is overlaid with hot mix asphalt concrete. Cracks reflect
up through the new surface. It reflects the cracks pattern of the pavement structure below.
Edge cracking: Edge cracks start as crescent shapes at the edge of the pavement. They will expand from
the edge until they begin to resemble alligator cracking. This type of cracking is due to lack of support of
shoulder, due to excessive moisture and due to weak material used in construction.
Surface deformation
Rutting: It is the displacement of the pavement material that cracks channels in the wheel path. It is
generally a failure in one or more layer s in the pavement. The width of the rut is a sign of which layer
has failed. A narrow rut is a indicator of surface failure, while a wide one is indicator of a subgrade
failure. It may be due to inadequate compaction. Treatment methods are
➢ Micro-paving or paved placed surface treatments in the case of
minor surface rutting.
➢ Deeper ruts may be shimmed with a truing and leveling course
with an overlay
➢ Recycling in case of surface asphalt is found unstable.
➢ Reconstruction in case of problem is found in sub-grade.
Corrugation
Corrugation is referred to as wash boarding because the pavement surface has become distorted like
washboard. It is due to instability of asphalt concrete surface. It is due to too much asphalt cement, too
much fine aggregate, or too many flaky or round materials in aggregate. It is occurred where vehicles
accelerate or decelerate.
Shoving: It is a form of plastic movement in the asphalt concrete surface layer that creates a localized
bulging of the pavement. Locations and causes of shoving are similar to those for corrugations.
Depressions: It is small, localized bowl-shaped areas that may include cracking. It creates roughness. It is
localized consolidation or movement of the supporting layers beneath the surface course due to
instability. Treatments are
➢ Excavating the localized depressions
➢ Reconstruction
Swell: It is a localized upward bulge on the pavement surface. It is caused by an expansion of the
supporting layers beneath the surface course of sub-grade. It is due to moisture.
Disintegration
Potholes: It is bowl-shaped holes similar to depression. It is a progressive failure. It is due to poor
drainage system.
Patches: It can lead to a more widespread failure of the surrounding pavement. Actually it is not a
defect, it can be classified as a portion of the pavement that has been removed or replaced.
Surface Defects:
Raveling: It is the loss of material from the pavement surface. It is due to insufficient adhesion between
the asphalt and the aggregate. Fine aggregate breaks loose and leave small, rough patches in the surface
of the pavement. It is leads to bleeding.
Bleeding: It is defined as the presence of excess asphalt on the road surface. Excessive asphalt reduces
the skid-resistance of a pavement. It can become very slippery when wet. It is due to excessive asphalt
content in hot mix, using asphalt with low viscosity, using too heavy tack coat or prime coat, improper
applied seal coat.
Polishing: Polishing is the wearing of aggregate on the pavement surface due to traffic. It leads
frictionless surface. A thin wearing course can be used to solve the problem.
Q1. Write five key causes of pavement deterioration in Bangladesh.
Q2. Identify cracking in selected portion of flexible pavement and rigid pavement.
Group 1: Amorphana and Old rail station (rigid pavement)
Group2: Trimokhi and lalbazard (rigid)
Group3: University main road and humanin Rashid chatar (rigid)
Group 4; Jindabard and Bholaganj road (rigid)
Group 5; Edigha and Lalbazard (bandar)
