Comparative Analysis of Tack Coats, Spray Paver Membranes, and Underseals: Technical Report

Tack coats, trackless tack coats, spray paver underseal membranes, and underseals provide varying levels of bonding and sealing performance, but these benefits have not been sufficiently quantified, and neither has the overall impact on the asphalt overlay service life. This study 1) evaluated the performance of bonding and sealing treatments for bond strength, resistance to reflection cracking, and permeability, 2) estimated the life-cycle cost for each treatment, and 3) provided a reference guide for bonding and sealing treatments. Laboratory samples and field samples from 42 test sections on five overlay projects were tested for bond strength (Texas shear bond strength test), cracking resistance (modified Texas overlay test and compact tension test), and permeability (Florida falling head permeability test). All tests were sensitive to treatment type. Hot-applied trackless tack had the highest bond strength and spray paver membranes and underseals were the weakest, though all treatments demonstrated acceptable performance. Bond strengths varied significantly among the projects. Bonding was very sensitive to sample age with older samples having higher strength. Most of the bond strength is likely gained in the first month. The highest cracking resistance and also the lowest permeability was from high-residual treatments (underseal, spray paver membrane, and hot-applied trackless tack). The performance of an overlay over aged transversely cracked pavement was modeled. Higher bonding increased fatigue and rutting life. For reflection cracking, a partial bond resulted in longer service life. The spray paver membrane and underseal treatments had the longest service life and the spray paver membrane had the lowest life-cycle cost. For other scenarios, constrained by rutting or fatigue, a different treatment is likely to prove more cost-effective. A bonding and sealing treatment guide was developed with scenario recommendations for applying each treatment.

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• Summary URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/catalogid=36552
• Summary URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/catalogid=36621
• Record URL:
  https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6908-R1.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/62427
• Summary URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/66048
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office
  125 E 11th Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Wilson, Bryan
  • Banihashemrad, Seyedamin
  • Sakhaeifar, Maryam
• Publication Date: 2018-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 122p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Bond strength (Materials); Laboratory tests; Life cycle costing; Overlays (Pavements); Pavement performance; Permeability; Reflection cracking; Sealing (Technology); Service life; Tack coats; Undersealing
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01687638
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-18/0-6908-R1, 0-6908-R1
• Contract Numbers: 0-6908
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 4 2018 10:09AM