Evaluating the need to seal thermal cracks in Alaska's asphalt concrete pavements : [summary].

PDFBriefFHWA-AK-RD-12-20INE/AUTC 12.27DTRT06-G-0011AUTC Project No. 510005T2-11-06Pavement crackingPavement maintenanceCracking of asphalt concrete pavementsSeal coatingSealing compoundsField studiesAsphalt concrete pavementsAlaskaAlaska. Dept. of Transportation and Public FacilitiesMcHattie, RobertMullin, AnthonyLiu, JuanyuAlaska University Transportation CenterAlaska. Dept. of Transportation. Research, Development, and Technology TransferUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe AKDOT&PF has promoted routine sealing of all cracks in asphalt concrete (AC) pavements for many years. In doing so,AKDOT&PF follows the generally accepted \u201cbest practice\u201d of sealing pavement cracks to the extent that time and money allows. Thisstudy of 91 sites on 20+ year old AC pavements in AKDOT&PF\u2019s Central and Interior Regions identified two distinct types of thermalcracks. Both types are known to be ubiquitous on AC pavements throughout all but the most southern parts of the State. Based on thefield observations during 2012, researchers conclude that significant maintenance funds can be saved or redirected by not sealing orreduced sealing of thermal cracks in AC pavements. Furthermore, the authors suggest that thermal crack maintenance be significantlyreduced without negatively influencing general long-term pavement performance.The report addresses, separately, each of the two recognized forms of thermal cracking. It recommends that \u201clessor thermal cracking\u201dreceive little or no maintenance. The report recommends that maintenance treatment of even the relatively large \u201cmajor transversethermal cracks\u201d can be greatly reduced based on inexpensive, long-term assessments following new pavement construction