SUBMITTED BY

Fahmid Tousif
Graduate Student
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID-83844.
Email: tous9485@vandals.uidaho.edu
CE 504
RIGID & AIRPORT SUBMITTED ON

January 25, 2018

PAVEMENT
DESIGN
Assignment 1: Distresses Survey on Rigid Pavements
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Introduction:
Distresses in rigid pavements are often observed while driving by in the roads of the states. Therefore,
for a pavement engineer it is off immense importance to identify and measure the severity of these
distresses first. For this Project, four test sections have been surveyed. Two tests locations were selected
in Pullman, Washington and two test locations were selected in Moscow, Idaho. All the visited test
sections were Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP). Different type of distresses have been observed
and recorded with dimensions to identify the severity level.

 Section 1:
Location: North East Thatuna Street, Pullman, Washington

Figure 1 : NE Thatuna St, Pullman, WA

Total Area: 135 ft × 30 ft (Approx.)

Type of distresses:
1) Transverse Cracking: Cracks perpendicular to pavement centerline have been observed.

Distress dimension:

Crack length: 9 ft
Crack width: 1.5 in. or 38.1 mm > 6mm
Spalling: 3.5 in. or 88.9 mm. Therefore, with spalling 127 mm> 75 mm
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Visual Inspection:

Figure 2: Transverse cracking in test section 1

Severity: High

Probable reasons: Pullman experiences cold winter from December to February. Curling can be one
reason for this distress. Again Pullman transit buses go through this road frequently. Therefore, heavy
traffic load can be another reason.

2) Scaling: Deterioration of the upper concrete slab surface has been observed.

Distress dimension:

No of Occurrences: 1

Affected area: 6 ft 5 in. × 9 ft = 8316 sq in. = 5.365 sq m

Visual Inspection:

Figure 3: Scaling in test section 1

Severity: Not Applicable

Probable reasons: Freeze thaw cycle can be one reason behind this. Improper finishing can be another
one.
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3) Map Cracking: Series of random cracks in both longitudinal and transverse direction are forming
up.

Distress dimension:

No of Occurrences: 1

Affected area: 12 ft × 23 ft = 276 sq ft = 276 sq ft= 25.64 sq. m

Visual Inspection:

Figure 4: Map cracking in test section 1

Severity: Not Applicable

Probable reasons: Probably curing was not good. Top surface dried faster. Contraction joints may be
sawed too late.
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 Section 2:
Location: North East Monroe Street, Pullman, Washington

Figure 5: NE Monroe St, Pullman, WA

Total Area: 45 ft × 15 ft (Approx.)

Type of distresses:
1) Longitudinal Cracking: Cracks parallel to pavement centerline have been observed.

Distress dimension:

Length: 24 ft 10 in
Crack width with spalling: 2.3 in or 58.42 mm < 75 mm

Visual Inspection:

Figure 6: Longitudinal cracking in test section 2

Severity: Moderate
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Probable reasons: Pullman experiences cold winter from December to February. Curling can be one
reason for this distress. Again this road is very busy road in the neighborhood. Lots of cars passes by
through this road. Frequent traffic load can be another reason.

2) Transverse Cracking: Cracks perpendicular to pavement centerline have been observed.

Distress dimension:

Length: 10 ft 6 in.
Crack width with spalling: 4 in. or 101.6 mm > 75 mm

Visual inspection:

Figure 7: Transverse cracking in test section 2

Severity: High

Probable reasons: Pullman experiences cold winter from December to February. Curling can be one
reason for this distress. Again this road is very busy road in the neighborhood. Lots of cars passes by
through this road. Frequent traffic load can be another reason.

3) Patching: Patched area has been observed in the test section.

Distress dimension:

Affected Area: 5 ft 4 in × 4 ft 5 in = 3392 sq in. = 2.18 sq. m

Faulting is 1.8 inch or 45.72 mm > 6mm

Visual Inspection:

Figure 8: Patching in test section 2

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Severity: High

Probable reasons: The construction might be poor.

4) Corner breaks: A portion of slab has been observed to be cracked, 45 degree with the direction
of traffic.

Distress dimension:

Length: 5 ft 8 in. or 1727.2 mm

Spalling width: 3 in. or 76.2 mm. The spalled portion is < 10% of the total length

Visual Inspection:

Figure 9: Corner breaks in test section 2

Severity: Low

Probable reasons: Repeated traffic load might be the cause, as it appeared.

5) Polished Aggregate: Worn away surface texture has been observed in this test section.

Distress dimension:

45 ft × 15 ft = 675 sq ft= 62.7 sq. meter (Approx.)

Visual inspection:

Figure 10: Polished aggregate in test section 2

Severity: Not applicable

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Probable reasons: Repeated traffic load induced by the studded tire caused abrasion.

6) Popouts: Small broken pieces from pavement surface have been found in our inspection.

Distress dimension:

Diameter: 1.8 in or 45.72 mm

Depth: 0.6 in. or 15 mm

Visual Inspection:

Figure 11: Popouts in test section 2

Severity: Not applicable

Probable reasons: May be aggregate was not durable. Alkali silica reaction can also be another reason.
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 Section 3:
Location: Baker Street, Moscow, Idaho

Figure 12: Baker Street, Moscow, Idaho

Total area: 90 ft × 45 ft (Approx)

Type of distresses:

1) Spalling of Transverse Joints: Spalling has been observed within 0.3m of the face of the
transverse joint.

Distress dimension:

Spall width: 2 in. or 50.8 mm < 75mm

Visual Inspection:

Figure 13: Spalling of Transverse joints in test section 3

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Severity: Low

Probable reasons: Excessive stresses due to traffic load might be the reason.

2) Spalling of Longitudinal Joints: Spalling has been observed within 0.3m of the face of the
transverse joint.

Distress dimension:

Spall width: 4.5 in or 114.3 mm >75 mm but <150 mm

Visual Inspection:

Figure 14: Spalling of Longitudinal cracking in test section 3

Severity: Moderate

Probable reasons: Excessive stresses due to traffic load might be the reason.

3) Patching: Patched surface has been observed in this test section.

Distress dimension:

No. of patches: 1

Affected Area: 13 ft 4 in × 6ft 4 in. = 12160 sq. in. = 7.84 sq. m

No measurable faulting or settlement.

Visual inspection:

Figure 15: Patching in test section 3

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Severity: Low

Probable Reason: Poor construction might be the reason.

4) Transverse Cracking: Cracks perpendicular to pavement centerline have been observed.

Distress dimension:

Length: 12 ft 8 in.
Crack width with spalling: 6 in or 152.4 mm > 75 mm

Visual inspection:

Figure 16: Transverse cracking in test section 3

Severity: High

Probable Reason: Frequent traffic load and curling can be the reason.

5) Longitudinal Cracking: Cracks parallel to pavement centerline have been observed.

Distress dimension:

Length: 15’
Crack Width with spalling: 1.6” or 40.64 mm < 75 mm

Visual inspection:

Figure 17: Longitudinal cracking in test section 3

Severity: Moderate
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Probable Reason: Frequent traffic load and curling can be the reason.

6) Corner breaks: A portion of slab has been observed to be cracked, 45 degree with the direction
of traffic.

Distress dimension:

Length: 7 ft 5 in. Crack is spalled at low severity > 10% of the total length.

Visual inspection:

Figure 18: Corner break in test section 3

Severity: Moderate

Probable reasons: Repeated traffic load might be the cause, as it appeared.

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 Section 4:
Location: Campus Dr, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Figure 19: Campus Dr, University of Idaho

Total area: 45 ft × 30 ft (Approx.)

Type of distresses:

1) Transverse Cracking: Cracks perpendicular to pavement centerline have been observed.

Distress dimension:

Length: 6 ft 1in.
Crack width with spalling: 1.3 in. or 33.02 mm < 75 mm

Visual inspection:

Figure 20: Transverse crack in test section 4

Severity: Moderate
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Probable reasons: Due to curling, since traffic load is not much in this test section.

2) Blowups: Upward movement at transverse joint has been observed.

Distress dimension: 0.5 × 20 ft × 5 ft = 50 sq. ft= 4.65 sq. m

Visual inspection:

Figure 21: Blowups in test section 4

Severity: Not applicable

Probable Reasons: Cold winter and hot summer caused contraction and expansion which might lead to
blow up here.

3) Corner breaks: A portion of slab has been observed to be cracked, 45 degree with the direction
of traffic.

Distress dimension:

Length: 4’-3”
Faulting: 0.7” 17.78 mm > 13 mm

Visual inspection:

Figure 22: Corner breaks in test section 4

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Severity: High

Probable reasons: It might be due to curling and warping stresses and insufficient support.

4) Popouts: Small broken pieces from pavement surface have been found in our inspection.

Distress dimension:

Diameter: 2.7 in or 68.58 mm

Depth: 0.7 in. or 18 mm

Visual inspection:

Figure 23: Popout in test section 4

Severity: Not applicable

Probable reasons: May be aggregate was not durable. Alkali silica reaction can also be another reason.

5) Longitudinal Cracking: Cracks parallel to pavement centerline have been observed.

Distress dimension:

Length: 13’-4”
Crack width with spalling: 2” or 50.8 mm < 75 mm

Visual Inspection:

Figure 24: Longitudinal cracking in test section 4

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Severity: Moderate

Probable reason: Curling and loss of support may cause this.

6) Spalling of Transverse Joints: Spalling of transverse joint has been observed

Distress dimension:

Spall width: 2.9” or 73.66 mm < 75 mm

Visual inspection:

Figure 25: Spalling of transverse joint in test section 4

Severity: Low

Probable reasons: Excessive stress due to incompressible material can cause this.

Conclusion:
In a nutshell, this on field survey was really effective to get the hands on experience on identifying
distresses associated with rigid pavements.

References:
1) Miller, J. S., & Bellinger, W. Y. (2003). Distress identification manual for the long-term pavement
performance program (No. FHWA-RD-03-031).