ACCEPTANCE TESTING FOR ROADWAY SMOOTHNESS. FOLLOW-UP REPORT

Smoothness on 11 asphalt concrete paving projects was tested with a Rainhart Profilograph. Each project was tested four times; before the overlay, after the overlay, six months after construction, and one year after construction. The overlays resulted in an 89% reduction in pavement roughness. Post construction smoothness measured from 2 to 17 inches per mile. After six months of service, the roadways on the average were as smooth as they were the day they were overlaid. Typically, the roadways became slightly smoother after six months of service, but two projects became significantly rougher and brought the average down for the entire study. No correlation was found between smoothness deterioration rates and the initial smoothness. A profilograph based smoothness specification for asphalt paving is not being implemented at this time. The lack of a significant problem at the present and the lack of a long term benefit are two of the reasons.

• Corporate Authors:

  Colorado Department of Highways

  4201 East Arkansas Avenue
  Denver, CO  United States  80222

  Federal Highway Administration

  Engineering Research and Development Bureau, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Griffin, R G
• Publication Date: 1986-6

Media Info

• Pagination: n.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance tests; Bituminous overlays; Deterioration; Pavements; Performance based specifications; Profilometers; Smoothness; Specifications; Surface course (Pavements)
• Old TRIS Terms: Pavement smoothness
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Pavements; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00460188
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: CDOH-DTP-R-86-13
• Contract Numbers: 1590
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 31 1986 12:00AM