This document discusses different types of pavement (bituminous, rigid, earthen) and common distresses that can occur in flexible pavement such as cracking, edge cracking, patching, rutting, and potholes. It provides definitions and classifications for different types of cracking (longitudinal, transverse, alligator), patching, rutting, raveling, potholes, and drainage issues. Metrics for evaluating the severity of these distresses such as crack length, width, and pattern are presented. The document also includes contact information for the author, a highway design engineer.

1. By : Mr. Nirmal Maisuria (B.tech Civil)
(Highway Design Engineer)

3. Type of Pavement :
•B- Bituminous
•R- Rigid
•E- Earthen

4. In Flexible pavement :
•Alligator Cracking /Longitudinal/Transverse Cracking/Block
Cracking
•Edge Cracking
•Patching
•Rutting
•Potholes
•Drainage
•Roughness

8. • Good
• Poor
• Fair
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
• The roughness of a road is determined by the severity of
uneven surfaces, corrugations, sags, humps, frost heaves
and the previous survey conditions.

9. • Longitudinal / Transverse Cracking : N -
Narrow ; W - Wide
• Alligator / Block Cracking : L - Low ; M -
Medium; H - High

10. •Alligator cracks are interconnected cracks, forming a series of small
blocks resembling an alligator’s skin. This occurs when the sub-base
gravel fails to provide adequate support for the asphalt pavement. It is
also known as fatigue cracking, and repeated heavy loads and
moisture create excess flexing of the surface.

11. • Low
Longitudinal disconnected hairline cracks no greater than
1/8 inch wide running parallel to each other; initially may
be only a single crack in the wheel path but could also
look like an alligator pattern.
• Moderate
Longitudinal cracks in wheel path(s) forming an alligator
pattern; cracks may be lightly spalled and are about an
1/8 to 1/4 inch wide.

12. • High
Cracking has progressed so that pieces appear
loose with severely spalled edges; cracks are
probably ¼ inch wide or greater; pumping of
fines through the cracks may be visible on the
pavement surface; potholes may be present.

13. • The failure can be either in the surface,
base or sub base.
• Cracking usually first begins in the wheel
path, usually as longitudinal cracking
Further stress creates an alligator pattern.

14. SEVERITY:
•LOW
•MEDIUM
•HIGH

15. • Longitudinal cracks are individual and run parallel to the centerline.
Transverse cracks run perpendicular to the centerline. They are caused
by inadequate bonding between paving lanes or asphalt shrinkage
from low temperatures.

16. 1) Low
2) Medium
3) High
located within 1-2 feet of the edge of the pavement.

17. Low:
Hairline cracks just beginning to show; cracks are random with no pattern;
cracks may be up to ¼ inch wide
Medium:
Cracks are wider, being from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in width or an alligator
pattern of cracks more than a foot in width measured from the pavement
edge.
High:
Cracks greater than 1/2 inch, or alligator sections which have failed; pieces
of pavement may be loose, or missing, or potholes may be present
 Pavement edge distress can result in worsening of wheel path condition,
allow moisture intrusion in the subgrade soils and base materials.
This cracking may occur in combination with other distresses.

18. • Rutting is the displacement of pavement material that
creates channels in the wheel path and is sometimes
referred to as channeling.
No visible
rutting (<1 in.)
Rutting visible
(>1 in.)
Length
Depth

19. • Severity of Ravelling : L - Low ;
M - Medium; H - High
• Length
• Width

20. • Potholes arise when the wearing surface disintegrates under traffic,
due to inadequate structural strength in one or more layers of the
pavement. They are bowl-shaped voids and are often located in areas
of poor drainage
Length
Dai
Width
Area

21. • . Patches are portions of pavement that have been
removed and replaced, usually to repair defects in the
pavement. Problems occur when the patches crack,
settle, or distort.
Length
Dai
Width
Area

22. • Good: The quality and condition of the patch is
excellent. Patches show no distress such as cracking or
raveling.
• Poor: Patches are showing some distress. Edges of
the patch are abrading. Hairline cracks are beginning to
show. Patches are failing showing multiple cracks and
distortion or the edges of patches are separating.

23. Good :
Poor:

24. • Inadequate drainage is important to document because of
the long-term affects of moisture on pavement. Rain falling
on pavement should be efficiently directed to drains and
catch basins. Poor drainage can damage the concrete,
weaken the sub-grade, etc.

25. • LOW / MEDIUM/ HIGH
• Length
• Width
• Area

26. Length in mt.

27. • Edge Drop in mm
• Length

28. Mr. Nirmal MaisuriaMr. Nirmal Maisuria
(B.tech Civil)(B.tech Civil)
Designation: Highway Design EngineerDesignation: Highway Design Engineer
Company: Translink Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.Company: Translink Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.
Contact: 9586703077Contact: 9586703077
Email id: nirmal.maisuria@gmail.comEmail id: nirmal.maisuria@gmail.com