Print this page Concrete Pavement - Distress Identification
John Poullain, P.E.
Course Outline
This three-hour online course covers the methods used for surveys of distressed concrete pavements – jointed and continuously reinforced - and includes sizing, identifying and determining the severity levels. The goal is to provide a uniform basis for collecting the pavement distress data and thus improve communication within and between highway agencies. The course describes how to conduct the distress survey, measuring cracks, potholes, joint deficiencies, surface defects and other distresses and explains how to obtain traffic control. Asphalt concrete pavement distresses are not covered in the course. Photographs and drawings illustrate the types of pavement distress and necessary measurements.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will have covered these topics:
- Description of the types of concrete pavement distresses;
- Methods for describing the pavement distress and determining the level of severity;
- Descriptions of how to conduct accurate and consistent pavement distress surveys;
- Uniform descriptions of distress to improve communication within highway agencies;
- Equipment and tools used for making pavement distress surveys;
- Measuring of faulting in the LTPP program;
- Operation and calibration of digital faultmeters;
- Sample forms for recording and reporting the distress data; and
- Drawings and photos illustrating the types and severity levels of pavement distresses.
Intended Audience
This course should benefit civil engineers, pavement engineers, and transportation engineers.
Benefit to Attendees
The student will become familiar with the methods used for surveys of distressed concrete pavements.
Course Introduction
The Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) developed the comprehensive pavement performance test – Long-term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program - in 1987. Highway agencies in the US and other countries have collected data on pavement conditions for more than 1000 pavement sections. The purpose of the manual used for this course was to provide a uniform basis for collecting distress data and to enable the performance of accurate and consistent distress evaluation surveys. Communication within and between highway agencies, parking facilities are improved and planning and performing pavement repairs becomes more efficient.
LTPP collects data on pavements – performance and the factors influencing performance. Information is organized into modules on pavement distress, deflection testing and skid information. Factors influencing performance include climate, traffic (loading) maintenance and construction activities. The data is available for downloading from www.datapave.com.
Course Content
The course is based on the US DOT Federal Highway Administration publication FHWA NHI-RD-03-031, “Distress Identification Manual for the Long-Term Pavement Performance Program”, (2003 Edition, Appendices A and B, 84 pages), PDF file.
Distress Identification Manual for the Long-Term Pavement Performance Program
Please click on
the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your
study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the
file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target
As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience
any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some
applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
This course should serve as a guide to assist pavement engineers in conducting distress surveys and to collect data in a consistent and uniform manner. This course describes the methods, tools used for the pavement distress surveys and the terminology used for the descriptions and severity levels. Sample forms used for recording and reporting of the collected survey data are included.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please refer to:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/ltpp
This is a FHWA publication regarding the LTPP program, newsletters, frost penetration and moisture content parameters and other factors influencing pavement performance.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/desi.cfm
FHWA site for design, construction, and maintenance of pavements in the US.
http://www.vulcanhammer.net/geotechnical
Offers geotechnical downloads for various manuals from FHWA, Dept. of the Interior, US Army Corps of Engineers and papers submitted by collages and PE’s. Case studies, recent developments and downloadable software are available.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
