Road and Pavement Inspection Flashcards

Which pavement surface treatment involves applying a thin polymer-modified asphalt slurry with aggregate to seal and improve friction on an existing pavement?

Answer: Microsurfacing

Microsurfacing uses polymer-modified binder and well-graded aggregate mixed on-site; unlike slurry seal, it can be opened to traffic quickly and used to fill ruts.

A longitudinal crack located in the wheel path of an asphalt pavement is most likely caused by:

Answer: Fatigue from repeated traffic loading causing shear failure

Wheel-path longitudinal cracks outside the joint area indicate fatigue or shear failure from repeated loading on a pavement with insufficient structural capacity.

Which test method is used to measure the in-place density of compacted asphalt pavement during construction inspection?

Answer: Nuclear density gauge (ASTM D2950)

The nuclear density gauge is the most common field method for measuring asphalt compaction by measuring gamma radiation attenuation through the pavement.

What does 'map cracking' (crazing) in a concrete pavement slab indicate?

Answer: Surface shrinkage, alkali-silica reaction, or freeze-thaw damage limited to the slab surface

Map cracking features random, interconnected surface cracks and typically results from surface shrinkage during curing, ASR, or freeze-thaw expansion limited to the top layer.

When inspecting pavement joint seals on a concrete road, which condition warrants immediate sealant replacement?

Answer: Sealant is missing or has separated from joint walls allowing debris intrusion

Missing or debonded joint sealant allows incompressible debris to fill joints, causing joint spalling and blowups during thermal expansion.

The 'distress density' value used in PCI calculation is defined as:

Answer: The total distress quantity divided by the sample unit area, expressed as a percentage

Distress density (%) = (total distress quantity in the sample unit / sample unit area) × 100, and is used with severity to determine the deduct value.

Which sign is a pavement inspector most likely to note as evidence of base course failure beneath flexible pavement?

Answer: Pumping of fines through cracks under traffic loads

Pumping occurs when water-saturated fine material is ejected through pavement cracks under wheel loads, signaling base or subgrade saturation and failure.