Pavement Distresses Comprehensive Overview of Pavement Distress Types, Causes, and Repair Techniques (Source: PavementInteractive.org)
Introduction Pavement distress refers to visible signs of deterioration in road surfaces. These distresses impact ride quality, safety, and maintenance costs. This presentation summarizes common pavement distresses, their causes, and recommended repairs.
Alligator Cracking – Description Alligator Cracking is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Alligator Cracking examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Alligator Cracking – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Alligator Cracking – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Alligator Cracking]
Bleeding – Description Bleeding is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Bleeding examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Bleeding – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Bleeding – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Bleeding]
Block Cracking – Description Block Cracking is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Block Cracking examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Block Cracking – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Block Cracking – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Block Cracking]
Corrugation & Shoving – Description Corrugation & Shoving is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Corrugation & Shoving examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Corrugation & Shoving – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Corrugation & Shoving – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Corrugation & Shoving]
Depression – Description Depression is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Depression examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Depression – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Depression – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Depression]
Joint Reflection Cracking – Description Joint Reflection Cracking is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Joint Reflection Cracking examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Joint Reflection Cracking – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Joint Reflection Cracking – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Joint Reflection Cracking]
Longitudinal Cracking – Description Longitudinal Cracking is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Longitudinal Cracking examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Longitudinal Cracking – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Longitudinal Cracking – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Longitudinal Cracking]
Patching – Description Patching is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Patching examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Patching – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Patching – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Patching]
Polished Aggregate – Description Polished Aggregate is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Polished Aggregate examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Polished Aggregate – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Polished Aggregate – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Polished Aggregate]
Potholes – Description Potholes is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Potholes examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Potholes – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Potholes – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Potholes]
Raveling – Description Raveling is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Raveling examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Raveling – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Raveling – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Raveling]
Rutting – Description Rutting is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Rutting examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Rutting – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Rutting – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Rutting]
Slippage Cracking – Description Slippage Cracking is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Slippage Cracking examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Slippage Cracking – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Slippage Cracking – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Slippage Cracking]
Stripping – Description Stripping is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Stripping examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Stripping – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Stripping – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Stripping]
Transverse Cracking – Description Transverse Cracking is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Transverse Cracking examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Transverse Cracking – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Transverse Cracking – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Transverse Cracking]
Water Bleeding & Pumping – Description Water Bleeding & Pumping is a common pavement distress characterized by distinctive visual patterns or surface features. It indicates degradation of the pavement surface or underlying structure. [Image: Water Bleeding & Pumping examples from PavementInteractive.org]
Water Bleeding & Pumping – Problems and Causes • Leads to reduced pavement performance and safety. • Caused by material failure, environmental factors, or repeated traffic loads.
Water Bleeding & Pumping – Repair Techniques • Identify and eliminate the root cause (drainage, material, or design issue). • Apply suitable patching, sealing, or overlay methods as per distress severity. [Image: Repair technique for Water Bleeding & Pumping]
Summary Regular pavement inspection helps detect distresses early. Timely maintenance and repairs extend pavement life and reduce lifecycle cost.
References Pavement Interactive. (n.d.). Pavement Distresses. Retrieved from https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/pavement-management/pavement-distresses/ Additional open-source civil engineering resources and image databases.