Flexible Pavement Distresses

Sl.
Distress Type Identification and Problems Possible Causes Possible Measures
No.

 Inadequate structural support,

 Decrease in pavement load supporting
Series of interconnected cracks caused by fatigue characteristics  Small, localized fatigue cracking – Remove the
failure of the HMA surface under repeated traffic  Loss of base, sub base or subgrade support cracked area of subgrade and Patch over the
loading.
1 Alligator Cracking  Stripping on the bottom of the HMA layer Increase removed subgrade.
Indicator of structural failure, cracks allow
in loading  Large fatigue cracking – HMA overlay over the
moisture infiltration, roughness, may further
 Inadequate structural design entire pavement surface. 
deteriorate to a pothole
 Poor construction (Inadequate compaction)

Interconnected rectangular cracks.

 Low severity cracks (< 1/2 inch wide) -  Crack
Larger blocks are generally classified as HMA shrinkage and daily temperature cycling
Asphalt binder aging seal
longitudinal and transverse cracking. 
2 Block Cracking  High severity cracks (> 1/2 inch wide and cracks
Block cracking normally occurs over a large Poor choice of asphalt binder in the mix design
with raveled edges).  Remove and replace the
portion of pavement area but sometimes will occur
cracked pavement layer with an overlay.
only in non-traffic areas.

 Low severity cracks (< 1/2 inch wide and

Cracks occur parallel to the pavement's centerline  Poor joint construction or location
infrequent cracks) – Crack sealing
Longitudinal or lay down direction.  A reflective crack from an underlying layer
 High severity cracks (> 1/2 inch wide and
3 Cracking It allows moisture infiltration, roughness, indicates  HMA fatigue
numerous cracks) – Remove and replace the
(Fatigue Cracking) possible onset of alligator cracking and structural  top-down cracking
cracked pavement layer with an overlay.
failure.

 Shrinkage of the HMA surface due to low  Low severity cracks (< 1/2 inch wide and
temperatures or asphalt binder hardening infrequent cracks) – Crack sealing.
Cracks occur in perpendicular to the pavement's
4
Transverse cracking
centerline or lay down direction.
 Reflective crack caused by cracks beneath the  High severity cracks (> 1/2 inch wide and
(Thermal cracking) surface HMA layer numerous cracks) – Remove and replace the
It allows moisture infiltration
 Top-down cracking cracked pavement layer with an overlay.

Flexible Pavement Distresses

Sl. Distress Type Identification Causes Possible Measures

No.
 Low severity cracks (< 1/2 inch wide and
infrequent cracks) – Crack Sealing. 
 Movement of the PCC slab beneath the HMA
Joint Reflection Cracks in a flexible overlay of a rigid pavement.  High severity cracks (> 1/2 inch wide and
5 surface because of thermal and moisture changes.
Cracking Allows moisture infiltration. numerous cracks).  Remove and replace the
cracked pavement layer with an overlay.

 Braking or turning wheels causes the

pavement surface to slide and deform. 
Crescent or half-moon shaped cracks generally  Low-strength surface mix
having two ends pointed into the direction of  Removal and replacement of affected area.
6 Slippage Cracking  Poor bonding between the surface HMA layer
traffic.
and the next underlying layer in the pavement
It allows moisture infiltration.
structure.

 Previous localized pavement deterioration  Patches can be removed from a pavement's

An area of pavement that has been replaced with that has been removed and patched surface is by either a structural or non-structural
7 Patching
new material to repair the existing pavement.  Utility cuts overlay.

Areas of HMA pavement where the portion of Repeated traffic applications. 

aggregate extending above the asphalt binder is Age of the pavement  Apply a skid-resistant slurry seal
8 Polished Aggregate either very small or there are no rough or angular  When the aggregate is susceptible to abrasion or  Bituminous Surface Treatments
aggregate particles. subject to excessive studded tyre wear.  Overlay.
It Decreases skid resistance.
Small, bowl-shaped depressions in the pavement
Potholes are the end result of alligator cracking.  Individual – Patching.
surface.
9 Potholes  More – Replace it by either a structural or non-
It causes serious vehicular damage and moisture
structural overlay.
infiltration
Flexible Pavement Distresses

Sl.
Distress Type Identification Causes Possible Measures
No.
 Small, localized areas of corrugation or
shoving – Remove the distorted pavement and
 Traffic action combined with unstable (i.e.
A form of plastic movement typified by ripples patch. 
Corrugation and low stiffness) HMA layer
10 (corrugation) or an abrupt wave (shoving) across  Large corrugated or shoved areas indicative
Shoving  Excessive moisture in the subgrade
the pavement surface of general HMA failure – Remove the damaged
pavement and overlay.

11 Bleeding A film of asphalt binder on the pavement surface.  Excessive asphalt binder in the HMA.  Minor bleeding - Applying coarse sand to
It causes loss of skid resistance when wet.  Excessive application of asphalt binder. blot up the excess asphalt binder.
 Major bleeding – cutting off excess asphalt
 with a motor grader or removing it with a heater
planer. 
 Low HMA air voids content.
 If the resulting surface is excessively rough,
resurfacing may be necessary.

Depressions are small localized areas. Noticeable Frost heave or subgrade settlement resulting from
after a rain when they are filled with water. inadequate compaction during construction.
12 Depression  Patch over the repaired subgrade.
Depressions filled with substantial water can cause
vehicle hydroplaning
 Subgrade consolidation or lateral movement
Surface depression along the wheel path. of the materials due to traffic loading  Slight ruts (< 1/3 inch deep) can generally
Rutting
Ruts filled with water can cause vehicle  Insufficient compaction of HMA layers be left untreated. 
or
13 hydroplaning, can be hazardous because ruts tend during construction  Pavement with deeper ruts should be leveled
Permanent
to pull a vehicle towards the rut path as it is steered  Inadequate pavement structure. and overlaid.
deformation
across the rut.  Improper mix design or manufacture.

Flexible Pavement Distresses

Sl.
Distress Type Identification Causes Possible Measures
No.

The loss of bond between aggregates and asphalt 

 Poor aggregate surface chemistry The stripped pavement needs to be removed
binder. and replaced after correction of any subsurface
 Water in the HMA causing moisture damage
14 Stripping It causes decrease in structural support, rutting, drainage issues.
shoving/corrugations, raveling, or cracking  Overlays over an existing open-graded
(alligator and longitudinal) surface course.

 Loss of bond between aggregate particles and

The progressive disintegration of an HMA layer
from the surface downward as a result of the 
dislodgement of aggregate particles.
15 Raveling
It causes loose debris on the pavement, roughness,
water collecting in the raveled locations resulting
in vehicle hydroplaning, loss of skid resistance
 Small, localized areas of raveling.  Remove
the asphalt binder
the raveled pavement and patch. 
Aggregate Segregation. 
 Large raveled areas indicative of general
 Inadequate compaction during construction. 
HMA failure.  Remove the damaged pavement
 Mechanical dislodging by certain types of
and overlay.
traffic (Studded Tyres).
  Braking or turning wheels causes the
pavement surface to slide and deform. 
Crescent or half-moon shaped cracks generally  Low-strength surface mix
having two ends pointed into the direction of  Removal and replacement of affected area.
16 Slippage Cracking  Poor bonding between the surface HMA layer
traffic.
and the next underlying layer in the pavement
It allows moisture infiltration
structure.

Water bleeding occurs when water seeps out of 
joints or cracks or through an excessively porous
Water Bleeding and HMA layer.  
17
Pumping Pumping occurs when water and fine material is
ejected from underlying layers through cracks in
the HMA layer under moving loads.
 If the problem is a high water table or poor
Porous pavement as a result of inadequate
drainage, subgrade drainage should be improved. 
compaction during construction or poor mix design
If the problem is a porous mix (in the case
 High water table
of water bleeding) a fog seal or slurry seal may be
 Poor drainage
applied to limit water infiltration.