APPLICABILITY OF NEW FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT SMOOTHNESS SPECIFICATION FOR ASPHALT OVERLAYS

The Texas Department of Transportation plans to implement smoothness specifications based on profilograph testing for all asphalt concrete paving projects as part of its construction quality control/quality assurance program. Smoothness specifications have been developed for newly constructed asphalt and portland cement concrete pavements. In a move to develop a similar specification for asphalt concrete overlays, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) was asked to evaluate the applicability of the existing flexible pavement smoothness specifications for the quality control and quality assurance of pavement rideability on overlay construction projects. This study was intended to provide the state with the information necessary to evaluate the improvement in ride quality that may be expected from placement of asphalt overlays, particularly for thin overlays [38 to 51 mm (1.5 to 2 in.)], which are generally constructed in Texas. To collect data to determine whether the existing specification can be implemented for overlay construction, TTI monitored a number of overlay projects during the 1994 calendar year. Profilograph measurements were made during these projects before any surface preparation, after surface preparation, and after placement of the asphalt concrete overlay. All of the projects monitored involved thin overlays. The data collected indicate that the existing smoothness specifications can be implemented on overlay projects, provided that appropriate surface preparations (e.g., milling, level-ups) are conducted to correct existing surface distresses before placement of the overlay.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/1575-03
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=APPLICABILITY+OF+NEW+FLEXIBLE+PAVEMENT+SMOOTHNESS+SPECIFICATION+FOR+ASPHALT+OVERLAYS&author=E.+Fernando&publication_year=1997
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0301061601
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1575, Construction: Flexible Pavements, Bridges, Quality, and Management.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Fernando, E G
• Publication Date: 1997

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 18-24
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1575
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete; Construction; Flexible pavements; Monitoring; Overlays (Pavements); Pavements; Profilographs; Quality assurance; Quality control; Ride quality; Smoothness; Specifications; Surface preparation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction specifications
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Old TRIS Terms: Pavement smoothness
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Pavements; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00743098
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0301061601
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 7 1997 12:00AM