Cracking

Distressed Pavements Identification Cracking

This section covers asphalt concrete-surfaced pavements (ACP), including ACP overlays on either asphalt concrete (AC) or portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements. Each of the distresses has been grouped into one of the following categories:

Cracking
Patching and Potholes
Surface Deformation
Surface Defects
Miscellaneous Distresses

Table 1 summarizes the various types of distress and unit of measurement. Some distresses also have defined severity levels.

This section includes the following distresses:

1. Fatigue Cracking
2. Block Cracking
3. Edge Cracking
4a. Longitudinal Cracking—Wheel Path
4b. Longitudinal Cracking—Non-Wheel Path
5. Reflection Cracking at Joints
6. Transverse Cracking

Measurement of crack width is illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 2 depicts the effect on severity level of a crack, in this case block cracking, due to associated random cracking.

***FIGURE 1*** *Measuring Crack Width in Asphalt Concrete-Surfaced Pavements*

**FIGURE 2** Effect on Severity Level of Block Cracking due to Associated Random Cracking

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