Observations,Modeling,and Mitigation Related to Reflective Cracking on Composite Pavements in New York City

Abstract

As part of a 7-year field study, experimental composite pavement sections incorporating several reflective crack control treatments were built and investigated in New York City (NYC). The primary objective of this study was to identify cost-effective materials and methods to minimize reflective cracks in NYC composite pavements. The as-constructed experiment included several reflective crack control strategies such as fabrics, membranes, composites, fiberglass laminates, and saw and seal crack control techniques. These strategies were repeated for 15- and 20-ft joint spacings in the base portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement. Control sections without any treatments were also built for each of the two PCC base joint spacings as baseline references. Evaluations in the form of 10 visual condition surveys, five falling weight deflectometer surveys, forensic coring, and materials testing were conducted over the life of the experiment. Performance was measured in terms of crack initiation, length, and severity as well as load transfer deterioration across the reflective cracks. The saw and seal crack control technique and short joint spacing, in that order, had the most effect on mitigating reflective cracking. The saw and seal technique offers a life extension of at least 18.5% and 34% for the 20- and 15-ft joint spacings, respectively, when compared with the NYC Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC) standard reflective crack control measure–a nonwoven polypropylene fabric interlayer. On the basis of these findings, it is recommended that NYCDDC switch its standard reflective crack mitigation practice to saw and seal and abolish the practice of skewing transverse joints in the PCC base. A saw and seal specification was developed to help NYCDDC implement this recommendation. Additionally, the data from this research represent a unique body of work that can be used in mechanistic-empirical modeling of this important distress type.

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References

New York City Department of Transportation, Bureau of Highway Operations. Standard Specifications. City of New York Department of Design and Construction, Division of Infrastructure, New York, 1986.

New York City Department of Design and Construction, Bureau of Design. Addendum No. 1, Standard Specifications. City of New York Department of Design and Construction, Division of Infrastructure, New York, 2002.

Mallela

Von Quintus

Koszalka

and Farina

Investigation of Reflective Crack Control Measures for HMA Overlays of PCC Pavements. Final Report. City of New York Department of Design and Construction, Division of Infrastructure, New York, 2007.