What Is Longitudinal Cracking in Pavement?
What Is Longitudinal Cracking in Pavement?
Longitudinal cracking is a type of pavement distress that occurs when cracks form along the direction of traffic flow.
This type of cracking often happens as a result of temperature fluctuations, overloads or vibrations due to high-speed traffic and occurs when asphalt layers fail to bond correctly.
Longitudinal cracks generally start small and then spread out over time, forming long jagged lines across the entire roadway.
These cracks will eventually make the surface rough and unstable, causing vehicles to have an uncomfortable ride.
The formation of longitudinal cracks can also lead to other secondary issues such as wetting-drying cycles which can cause further damage to the roadway if not addressed promptly.
What Causes Longitudinal Cracking In Asphalt?
Longitudinal cracking in asphalt is caused by contraction and expansion of the ground under the pavement due to climate changes, increased traffic loads, and over-applied asphaltic materials.
The fluctuations in temperature cause cycle after cycle of shrinkage and swelling of the ground beneath the road surface.
When a roadway is over applied with asphaltic material, it becomes susceptible to cracking due to thermal contraction and expansion.
The cracks then become filled with water which can further weaken the area allowing for further deterioration.
Longitudinal cracking is also a direct result of an increase in traffic loads as every vehicle that passes over an area will produce stress on the pavement causing it to deteriorate overtime leading to longitudinal cracking.
What Causes Longitudinal Cracking In Concrete?
Longitudinal cracking in concrete is caused by forces that act on the concrete due to drying shrinkage, temperature changes, and excessive torsional moments.
It often occurs when the force exerted on the concrete exceeds its tensile strength. For instance, if a slab of concrete is subjected to expansive soil movement or expansive weather conditions, it may cause cracks in the direction of the surface-spanning plane.
Additionally, if excess amounts of water are added to the mix during construction or when curing, it can cause an increase in volume and expansion of the material resulting in cracking.
This can also be caused by poor finishing practices using insufficient reinforcement or improper curing methods which lead to restraint of shrinkage near the surface.
How Do You Fix Longitudinal Cracking?
Longitudinal cracking is typically caused by weakened pavement due to aging or excessive loading.
To fix the issue, it is essential to strengthen the asphalt structure and prevent further damage. Typical repairs involve using a sealant to fill in the cracks and reinforcing them with geotextile fabric or steel mesh to reduce any further widening.
In more severe cases where water has penetrated deeper into the pavement, more extensive repairs will be necessary such as cutting out the damaged area and replacing it with new asphalt layers.
After fixing longitudinal cracks, it is important to protect the entire paved surface from water penetration through proper sealing and crack fillings.
What Is Longitudinal Cracking In Pavement?
Longitudinal cracking in pavement is a form of cracking that runs parallel to the centre line of the roadway.
It typically occurs when traffic or environmental conditions cause excessive stresses on the pavement, leading to instability and ultimately leading to cracks appearing in the surface layer.
Issues such as inadequate drainage, poor materials selection, improper construction techniques, shrinkage of asphalt due to low temperatures, and high loading from heavy vehicles can all contribute to the formation of these longitudinal cracks.
Proper pavement design and maintenance can help reduce or even eliminate the occurrence of this type of cracking.
