High-Strain Asphalt Interlayer for Reflective Cracking: A 20+ Year Review

Since the early l 990's, asphalt interlayers of about 25-mm thick have been used in the United States (U.S.) to greatly delay the onset of reflective cracking over Portland cement concrete and asphalt pavements. Koch Materials Company introduced technology to the U.S., which had been previously used in France. The asphalt interlayer mixture is comprised of fine aggregate with high dust and high asphalt content. This is not just a "recipe" mixture, but a performance-based specification that consists of a high-strain, 4-point flexural beam fatigue test to ensure extreme flexibility and a mixture stability test (Hveem Stability, Asphalt Pavement Analyzer, etc.) for adequate rut resistance. Interlayer test sections were placed strategically thought the U.S. in various climatic zones to further adjust the performance specification and testing temperatures. Today, the asphalt Reflective Crack Relief Interlayer (RCRI) is used in some form in Texas, Kentucky, Kansas, Wisconsin, Iowa, New Jersey, along with other states. With the need to control cracking, RCRI is a valid option for contractors to use local materials to build asphalt interlayers to control/delay cracking. Today, the interlayer can be designed with newer tests like the indirect tensile asphalt cracking test (IDEAL-CT) or flexural beam fatigue coupled with a rutting test such as the Hamburg Wheel Tracker, all with climate-adjusted test temperatures.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Pagination: pp. 309-325.
  • Monograph Title: Proceedings of the Sixty-Sixth Annual Conference of the Canadian Technical Asphalt Association (CTAA): Cyberspace

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01839208
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada
  • Files: ITRD, TAC
  • Created Date: Mar 22 2022 2:50PM