Impact of Environmental Factors on Pavement Performance in the Absence of Heavy Loads

2019PDFTech Reporthttps://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/16084/index.cfmFHWA-HRT-16-084Pavement performanceLoadsProtection against environmental damageSubgrade (Pavements)United StatesUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Infrastructure Research and DevelopmentTitus-Glover, LeslieDarter, Michael I.Von Quintus, Harold L.Applied Research Associates, Inc.United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Infrastructure Research and DevelopmentTurner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterSpringer, JackFederal Highway AdministrationThe objectives of this study were to identify and quantify the effects of environmental factors and pavement design on pavement performance in the absence of heavy loads; establish what the environmental effects are and develop recommendations for mitigating these effects through effective designs, materials selection, and construction; estimate the portion of total pavement damage caused by environmental factors; and establish a database of pavement design features, materials properties, and performance to be used in the future for similar analyses. Site-by-site analyses of the Long-Term Pavement Performance program's Specific Pavement Study (SPS)-8 sections were conducted. Next, researchers determined the effect of environmental factors in SPS-8 and companion sections from other SPSs and General Pavement Studies (GPSs) on the performance of flexible and rigid pavements. Finally, an estimate of the portion of pavement damage caused by environmental factors was made through a comparison of the pavement damage of low-traffic SPS-8 sections with higher-traffic companion SPS and GPS sections. Results showed an average of 36 and 24 percent of total damage was related to environmental factors for flexible and rigid pavements, respectively, at an age of 15 yr.In addition, many results were obtained through an analysis of the performances of SPS-8 and companion SPS and GPS sections. One such finding was that the occurrence of transverse cracking of asphalt-concrete pavement was significantly higher for companion pavements subjected to higher traffic loadings (SPS-1 and GPS-1) than under low-traffic loadings (SPS-8). Transverse cracking also occurred in nonfreeze climates. Based on the results from this study, suggestions for improvements to pavement designs and materials to minimize distress and to maximize performance in various climatic regions are presented.78