PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
Accomplishing necessary maintenance with minimal disruption to traffic is important from the standpoints of customer
satisfaction, the safety of both those doing the work and the traveling pubic, and overall productivity. The following are key findings from several
LTPP pavement maintenance studies. These findings are grouped into two areas: maintenance of rigid pavements and maintenance of flexible pavements.
- Maintainance of Rigid Pavements
- Maintainance of Flexible Pavements
- Treatment Performance
Report No. FHWA-RD-97-155
- There are no significant differences (either in spalling or in any other performance measure) between the control
sections (unsealed) and the sealed-joint or undersealed (slab stabilization) sections. This observation is based on
the 32 test sites constructed for the SPS-4 experiment (rigid pavement maintenance) in the United States and
Canada between 1990 and 1995.
- Based on 5 years of data collected in Arizona, Colorado,
Nevada, and Utah, differences in initial pavement smoothness among the three treatments consisting of
sealed, undersealed, and unsealed joints in the SPS-4 experiment are not significant. Neither does faulting
analysis indicate significant differences among the three treatments.
Report Nos. FHWA-RD-97-155 and NCHRP 20-50(2)
- Based on 5 years of data collected at the five test sites built in Arizona, Colorado, and Utah (all in the dry region),
the effects of sealed and unsealed joints on spalling are similar.
Report No. FHWA-RD-99-151
- Predominant among the SPS-4 State supplemental test sections built in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah
between 1990 and 1995 was a comparison of joint sealant types: silicone seals, compression seals, and hot
pours. Silicone seals appeared to outperform the other two treatments for transverse joint seals.
Report No. FHWA-RD-99-153
- When comparing saw-and-patch and chip-and-patch procedures in 28 test sites in four climatic regions, the
annual cost for chip-and-patch is lower than for sawand-patch. There are other considerations, in addition to
cost, that make the chip-and-patch procedure preferable to saw-and-patch.
- Treatment Performance
Report No. NCHRP 20-50(3/4)
- In terms of roughness, rutting, and fatigue cracking, the most effective of the four maintenance treatments investigated
in the SPS-3 experiment (flexible pavement maintenance) is the thin (38-mm (1.5-inch)) AC overlay treatment, followed by the chip seal treatment, the slurry seal treatment, and then the crack seal treatment.
- For the SPS-3 test sections, the thin (38-mm (1.5-inch)) AC overlay treatment is the only one of the four treatments
(thin AC overlays, chip seals, slurry seals, and crack seals) under investigation that has shown a significant
initial effect on rutting. Thin AC overlays also have the most significant effect on long-term rutting control.
- In the SPS-3 thin overlay sections, age of pavement was the only one of the factors studied (traffic, climate, stiffness,
thickness) found to be significantly correlated to the rate of rutting.
- In the SPS-3 crack sealed and chip sealed sections, average annual precipitation was the only one of the factors
studied found to be significantly correlated to the rate of rutting.
- Pothole Repair Treatment Performance and Repair Methods
Report No. FHWA-RD-99-168
- The two main elements of quality pothole patching in flexible pavements are material selection and repair
procedures. For every combination of these two factors, the cost-effectiveness of the overall patching operation
will be affected by material, labor, and equipment costs.
Report No. FHWA-RD-098-073
- Although pothole patches are intended to be temporary repairs, using the best materials available can provide
patches that remain in service for several years and that reduce the need for re-patching.
Report No. FHWA-RD-99-143
- The most cost-effective treatments for crack seals are
usually those consisting of rubberized asphalt placed in
a standard or shallow-recessed band-aid configuration.
The standard recessed band-aid method showed the
longest estimated service life, followed very closely by
the shallow recessed band-aid method.
- For long-term crack-seal performance (5 to 8 years) under
the condition where a 2.5 to 5.0 mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) of
horizontal crack movement occurred, a modified rubberized
asphalt sealant should be installed in either a standard
or shallow recessed band-aid configuration.
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