CRACK SEALING IN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS: A LIFE-CYCLE COST ANALYSIS

Pavement cracks are usually sealed to prevent water from entering into base course layers. Experience suggests that water, present in pavement layers, hastens pavement deterioration and increases rehabilitation costs. Initially, the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO) experienced only limited success in sealing cracks because of the use of inappropriate materials and installation procedures. This setback, at the initial stages of development in crack sealing, raised questions concerning the effectiveness of crack sealing in reducing the rate of pavement deterioration. In the 1970s and 1980s, MTO carried out several field studies to develop an effective crack sealing procedure and to study the influence of crack sealing on pavement distress and performance. As well, the cost-effectiveness of this treatment was investigated. The results of the studies indicate that sealing cracks is a viable and cost-effective preventive maintenance treatment which can extend the service life of asphalt pavements by 2-5 years. However, for optimum benefits, the crack sealing program must be implemented according to the guidelines proposed in this paper. The guidelines provide a basis for the selection of suitable pavements and cracks, sealant materials, and application procedures.

• Corporate Authors:

  Ontario Ministry of Transportation

  Research and Development Branch, 1201 Wilson Avenue
  Downsview, Ontario  Canada  M3M 1J8
• Authors:
  • JOSEPH, P
• Publication Date: 1992-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 36 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Cracking; Defects; Flexible pavements; Guidelines; Life cycle analysis; Life cycle costing; Measures of effectiveness; Pavement distress; Pavement performance; Pavements; Preventive maintenance; Sealing (Technology); Sealing compounds; Service life
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• Old TRIS Terms: Pavement life; Sealing
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00625671
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: PAV-92-04
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 5 1993 12:00AM