Field and Laboratory Forensic Analysis of Reflective Cracking on Massachusetts Interstate 495

In July 2007 the Massachusetts State Highway Department (MassHighway) began a pavement rehabilitation project involving the placement of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) over a section of portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement on Interstate 495. The pavement rehabilitation consisted of a 50.8-mm (2-in.) thick leveling course, followed by a 25.4-mm (1-in.) thick reflective crack relief interlayer (RCRI) and an overlay of another 50.8-mm (2-in.) thick intermediate course consisting of a dense-graded HMA mixture that was identical to the leveling course. Within approximately 2 months after placement, reflective cracking was observed in the area where only the initial 50.8-mm-thick leveling course had been placed. Approximately 6 months after the section that included the RCRI had been placed, reflective cracking was also observed. This paper summarizes a field and laboratory forensic effort that was aimed at determining the cause of the early reflective cracking on Interstate 495 in Massachusetts. Field testing, with the falling weight deflectometer as well as coring of PCC pavement, was used to assess the PCC joint performance in the vertical and horizontal deflection modes. Laboratory testing was conducted on laboratory-prepared HMA and evaluated for cracking resistance under vertical and horizontal deflections and for test temperatures that simulated field conditions. A general framework is introduced that can be used to assess the compatibility of different HMA and RCRI mixtures intended for use on composite pavements during the mixture selection and design phase before field placement.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/2126-04
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Field+and+Laboratory+Forensic+Analysis+of+Reflective+Cracking+on+Massachusetts+Interstate+495&author=T.+Bennert&author=M.+Worden&author=M.+Turo&publication_year=2009
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309142564
• Authors:
  • Bennert, Thomas A
  • Worden, Michael
  • Turo, Matthew
• Publication Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 27-38
• Monograph Title: Bituminous Materials and Mixtures 2009, Volume 1
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2126
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous overlays; Composite pavements; Concrete pavements; Falling weight deflectometers; Field tests; Forensic science; Hot mix asphalt; Laboratory tests; Pavement interlayers; Reflection cracking; Rehabilitation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Compatibility (Materials)
• Geographic Terms: Massachusetts
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01124246
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309142564
• Report/Paper Numbers: 09-2654
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 18 2009 6:23AM