Evaluation of Thin Hot Mix Asphalt Overlay

Preserving the road surface and maintaining it at a proper functional level is essential to safe transportation. Among alternatives for pavement surface treatment, thin asphalt overlays have been utilized and promoted by several states to serve this need. To evaluate the performance of such overlays and develop relevant specifications, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) initiated a four-year research program with Pennsylvania State University. The project carried several major objectives. One was to assess best practices for design and construction of such mixes through field application of three pilot projects and conducting necessary laboratory testing. Second was to evaluate the performance of such mixes placed in these pilot projects through visual survey and pavement condition measurements. Third was the use of existing advanced technology such as thermal imaging and ground-penetrating radar to determine the uniformity of such mixes during placement in regard to temperature and density. Finally, it was the intention of the project to develop relevant specifications and guidelines for thin asphalt overlays. Field evaluations, in general, indicated satisfactory performance of these roads. Considerable improvement has been achieved in terms of ride quality and skid resistance after placement of thin asphalt. The exception is SR 0220, for which the skid numbers were already high and skid resistance improvements were not as significant as for the other two projects. Field measurements have indicated minimal rutting, fatigue cracking, and raveling at all three sites. Reflective cracking has been the dominant distress at all three projects. Overall, it can be assessed that both construction and performance of the three pilot projects has been successful based on observations within this limited period of time. The results of the study were reflected in newly developed construction specifications for 6.3-mm mixes as well as construction guidelines and a manual of best practices.

• Record URL:
  http://www.mautc.psu.edu/docs/PSU-2014-04.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Transportation Research Building
  University Park, PA  United States  16802

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center

  Pennsylvania State University
  201 Transportation Research Building
  University Park, PA  United States  16802-4710

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  University Transportation Centers Program
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Solaimanian, Mansour
  • Stoffels, Shelley
  • Milander, Scott
  • Morian, Dennis
• Publication Date: 2016-6-20

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 26p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Bituminous overlays; Ground penetrating radar; Pavement design; Pavement performance; Paving; Reflection cracking; Ride quality; Skid resistance; Specifications
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pilot projects; Thermal imaging
• Geographic Terms: Pennsylvania
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01612146
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-PA-2016-005-110807, LTI 2016-25
• Contract Numbers: 355I01 - 110807
• Files: UTC, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 27 2016 8:59PM