PIC Pavement Distress & Failure Analysis Flashcards

Edge cracking in flexible pavement typically occurs due to:

Answer: Lack of lateral support at the pavement edge

Edge cracking develops along the outer edges of the pavement where lateral support is absent or the base is weak, accelerating under traffic and environmental stress.

Delamination in an asphalt pavement refers to:

Answer: Separation of one or more pavement layers from each other

Delamination is the separation or debonding between pavement layers, often caused by contamination of the tack coat or inadequate bonding between lifts.

The primary cause of pothole formation in flexible pavement is:

Answer: Water infiltrating cracks, weakening the base, and traffic loading displacing material

Potholes form when water enters existing cracks, weakens the sub-base through freeze-thaw or saturation, and traffic loads then break out pieces of pavement.

Reflection cracking in an overlay is most accurately described as:

Answer: Cracks propagating upward from joints or cracks in an underlying layer through the new surface

Reflection cracking occurs when existing cracks or joints in an underlying layer move or open due to thermal or traffic forces, causing the distress to mirror through the overlay.

Which pavement condition rating system is most commonly used by FHWA-funded state DOTs to classify pavement distress?

Answer: Pavement Condition Index (PCI)

The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is the standard FHWA-recognized rating scale from 0–100 used to classify the surface condition of road and parking lot pavement.

Polished aggregate at a pavement surface is considered a distress because it:

Answer: Reduces skid resistance and increases the risk of vehicle crashes

Polished aggregate is worn smooth by traffic, reducing the texture needed for skid resistance and increasing the risk of skidding, especially on wet pavement.