Table of content

1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Flexible Pavement Layer of Flexible Pavement Failure In Flexible Pavement Typical Failure Pattern Conclusion And Discussion Reference

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Flexible pavement Failure

Flexible Pavement

Low or negligible flexural strength Flexible in their in structural action under load Transmits stress to lower layer by grain to grain transfer Generally Last for 5- 20 yrs Low initial cost Easy to upgrade Bituminous roads DBSD, Asphalt Concrete , Otta seal , DBM etc

Typical Flexible Pavement Layer

1. 2. 3. 4.
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Soil sub grade Sub- Base Course Base Course Surface Course
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Flexible pavement Failure

Typical Flexible Pavement X section

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Flexible pavement Failure

Typical Flexible Pavement

Typical Flexible Pavement according to material quality

Loading pattern
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 According to Highway Research Board, 1970 cited by Pavement

Flexible Pavement Failure

Interactive, 2010, pavement distress is "any indication of poor or unfavorable pavement performance or signs of impending failure; any unsatisfactory performance of a pavement short of failure" To maintain the stability of the pavement structure as a whole each layer should be stable within itself.

Pavement Failure
External Failure Over loading Petroleum spillage Sink holes Flooding, seepage, climate Lack of Pavement Mixtures Poor materials Poor Construction Internal Failure

Other unforeseen Earthquake etc..

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One of major cause of pavement failure

Water is enemy of pavement and can worsen cracked pavement problems .Freezing and thawing action makes pavement weak.

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Flexible pavement Failure

Pavement Failure
Failure in sub grade Excessive deformation in sub-grade soil due to insufficient bearing capacity or a shear failure in sub-grade soil.
Inadequate Stability
inherent weakness of soil

itself, excessive moisture improper compaction

Excessive application of

Stress consolidation deformation Plastic deformation

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Failure in Sub Base Base Course

Inadequate Stability
Poor mix proportion , in adequate stability, poor ingradient

Loss of Binding action

Repeated stress Application
Internal movement of aggregate in base or sub base

Loss of Bearing Course Materials

When Wearing course materials worn out

Inadequate Wearing Course Use of inferior materials Lack of lateral confinement of granular base course

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Flexible pavement Failure

Failure of wearing course

Improper mix design Poor quality control

Volatilization and oxidation of binder

Improper gradation of aggregates Inadequate binder content

Inferior type of binder etc.

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Flexible pavement Failure

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Typical Flexible Pavement Failures

1. Surface 2. Surface Deformation Defects 3. Cracking's 4. Patching and Potholes

1. 2. 3. 4.

Shoving 1. Bleeding Corrugation Flushing Rutting 2. Ravelling Depression 3. Polishing 4. Surface lifting / Seal Break /Upheaval 5. Water bleeding and pumping
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1. Fatigue /alligator 1. Patch crack detoritio 2. Block Cracking n 3. Longitudnal 2. Potholes Cracking 4. Transverse(ther mal ) Cracking 5. Edge Cracking /Edge Break /Edge drop offs 6. Crescent shape /slippage cracks
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1.1 Shoving :

Surface Deformation

Formation of waves across a pavement, Occur at severe horizontal stresses like intersection

Possible Causes Excess asphalt too much fine aggregate; rounded aggregate; Low modulus of base course , thin wearing course High stress due to braking and acceleration Probable Treatment Partial or full depth patch Reconstruction of base Bituminous overlay
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1.2Corrugations :
Transverse ridges and valleys (or ripples) occurring at regular Intervals,
Usually occurs at points where traffic starts and stops

Possible Causes Inadequate stability of bituminous surface Heavy traffic on steep downgrade or upgrade Inadequate stability of base course Compaction of base in wave form Probable Treatment Base reconstruction Mill off the corrugated surface and replace with the stiffer mix or use hot mix asphalt
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1.3Rutting :
Surface/channelized depressions in the wheel-tracks,
evident after a rain when they are filled with water

Possible Causes Inadequate pavement thickness Unsuitable bituminous mixes consolidation or lateral movement of any layer due to traffic loading Insufficient compaction Probable Treatment Strengthening overlay or reconstruction Base or sub base strengthening
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1.4 Depression (birds baths):

Surface areas with slightly lower elevations than the surrounding

pavement Usually on left lane and shoulder

Possible Causes Differential settlement of sub grade or base materials Volume change of subgrade due to environmental influences settlement due to instability of embankment Probable Treatment Applying a thin surface patch Base or subgrade reconstruction Embankment stabalization and drainage improvement
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2.Surface Defects
2.1 Bleeding/ Flushing:
shiny, glass-like reflecting surface , thin sticky bitumen layer Loss of skid resistance when wet
Possible Causes Excessive asphalt in the surface layer Lack of proper rolling during placement Probable Treatment Applying coarse sand cutting off excess asphalt with a motor grader or removing it with a heater planer Resurfacing the asphalt
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2.2Ravelling(very porous asphalt):

Separation of aggregate particles in a pavement from the surface

downward or from the edges inward more common in the northern regions(snow belt)
Possible Causes Insufficient bitumen content Inadequate compaction or construction during wet weather Poor adhesion of bitumen binder Probable Treatment Thin bituminous overlay

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2.3Polishing:
surface consisting of rough exposed aggregates

Possible Causes Inadequate resistance to polishing of surface aggregates Use of naturally smooth uncrushed aggregates Repeated traffic on an aging pavement system. Probable Treatment The bituminous overlay of use of stiffer mix
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2.4 Surface lifting /Seal Break/Upheaveal:

Upward movement in a pavement
Possible Causes Inadequate cleaning or inadequate tack cot before placement of upper layers Adhesion of surface binder to vehicle tyres Seepage of water through asphalt swelling of the subgrade Inadequate cleaning or inadequate tack coat before placement of upper layers Probable Treatment Reconstruction of weak layer Thin bituminous overlay
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2.5 Water Bleeding and pumping :

Water seeps out of joints or cracks or through an excessively porous Water and fine material is ejected from underlying layers through cracks Decreased skid resistance , decreased structural support

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Possible Causes High water table Poor drainage Poor mix design and compaction Probable Treatment slurry seal to limit water infiltration Lower water table and good drainage

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3.Cracking Cracks
3.1 Fatigue /Alligator /Crocodile crack: load associated structural failure cracks allow moisture infiltration, roughness, may further deteriorate to a pothole Repeated loading, the longitudinal cracks connect forming many-sided sharp-angled piece like crocodile Possible Causes
Inadequate pavement

thickness Increase in loading Brittle base and wearing course Poor base drainage and inadequate structural design

Probable Treatment
Strengthen the pavement or

reconstruction Base recycling or reconstruction

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3.2 Block Cracking :

Large interconnected rectangles (roughly) is not load-associated,

but generally caused by shrinkage of the asphalt pavement

Possible Causes Joints in underlying layer Shrinkage and fatigue of underlying cemented materials Shrinkage cracks (due to bitumen hardening) in bituminous surfacing Probable Treatment Crushed aggregate overlay Replace underlying cemented materials Cut and patch or crushed aggregate overlay
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3.3 Longitudnal Cracking :

Cracks that are parallel to the pavements centerline
Possible Causes Reflection of shrinkage cracks Displacement of joints at pavement widening Differential settlement between cut and fill Probable Treatment

Cut and patch Replace bituminous surfacing Crushed aggregate overlay or reconstruction of joints.
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3.4Transverse or thermal Cracking :

Perpendicular to the pavement's centerline or laydown direction
Induced by daily temperature cycles, and poor construction
Possible Causes Reflection of shrinkage cracks Construction joint in bituminous surfacing Shrinkage crack bituminous surfacing Reflection of joints in the underlying base Probable Treatment

Cut and patch

Crack sealant

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3.5Edge Cracks /Edge Breaks /Edge Drop off :

Edge Cracks travel along the inside edge of a pavement surface

within one or two feet Possible Causes

Poor drainage conditions and lack of

support at the pavement edge Excessive traffic loading at the pavement edge Inadequate pavement width Insufficient bearing support Edge drop-off Heavy vegetation along the pavement Probable Treatment Widen the pavement or strengthen the pavement edge
Improve drainage and shoulder
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3.6Crescent /Parabolic /Slippage /Shear cracks :

Slippage cracks are crescent-shaped cracks or tears in the surface

layer(s) of asphalt where the new material has slipped over the underlying course Possible Causes Lack of bond between wearing course and the underlying layer Thin wearing course High stress due to braking and acceleration movements
By dirt, oil, or other contaminants

preventing adhesion Probable Treatment

Partial or full depth patch Reconstruction of base Bituminous overlay

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4.1Patch deterioration :

4.Patching and Potholes

An area of pavement that has been replaced with new

material to repair the existing pavement. A patch is considered a defect no matter how well it performs. Possible Causes
Inadequate cleaning or

inadequate tack cot before placement of upper layers Weak, loose layer immediately underlying seal Break the bond between surface and lower layers

Probable Treatment
Reconstruction of weak layers Mill off and re-lay upper layers Replace wearing course or thin

bituminous overlay
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4.2Pot Holes:
Small, bowl-shaped depressions in the pavement surface

that penetrate all the way through the asphalt layer down to the base course
Possible Causes Loss of surface course Moisture entry to base course through a cracked pavement surface Load associated disintegration of base Probable Treatment Patching Cut and patch Base reconstruction
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Conclusion and Discussion

Flexible pavement failures are affected by various factors such as

sub grade soil , drainage , climate ,traffic and environmental condition etc. There is not just one type of road failure, and there is not just one reason for each type of failure, this attempt is made to give guidance and supply some information Localized settlement of any component layer of flexible pavement structure could be strong enough to cause pavement failure. Timely maintenance reduce operation cost and life of pavement The aging and oxidization of bituminous films lead to the deteriorations of bituminous pavement. A proper drainage system or good protection measure on moisture elongates pavement life.
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References
Highway Engineering Book by Dr S.K Khanna and Dr C E G Justo

Highway specification and maintenance pdf

. http://ww.pavementinteractive .org Proceeding of Malaysian Universities Transportation Research Forum and Conferences 2010 (MUTRFC2010), University Tenaga Nasional ,21 December 2010 Vehicles of today and motor ways in Myanmar (4). Retrieved on 16 August 2010 from http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/open6/230909for1.html http :// www.uotechnology.edu.iq Data Collection Strategies in Malaysia, Public Work Department Malaysia ,Zakaria, S. & Hasan, M. Z. (2005).

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