Asphalt’s durability and value for money make it a popular choice for parking

lots, driveways, and roads. However, weather, aging, lack of maintenance, high
traffic load, or even poor site preparation may all lead to issues from time to
time.
Here we look at some of the more common asphalt paving issues, their causes
and how to fix them.

THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE

You can extend the life of your asphalt pavement by performing regular preventative
maintenance. These measures include keeping the surface free of debris, sealcoating,
and repairing as soon as you notice them. But before you can fix an issue with asphalt
pavement, you need to know what they are.
Here are eight common asphalt paving issues, their causes, and how you can fix
them.

1. RAVELING

Figure 1. An example of raveling. Raveling is the breakdown of asphalt as particles

dislodge from the surface. This breakdown results in uneven surfaces and accumulation
of loose debris and standing water.
Have you ever walked through a parking lot and noticed loose gravel and grit? If so, you
have likely seen raveling first hand. Raveling is the breakdown of pavement by the loss
of asphalt and rocks.
Over time, the pavement thickness decreases and loose gravel abrades the remaining
asphalt. Once gravel has penetrated the asphalt, water seeps in and make the problem
even worse. Raveling can leave you with an uneven surface (trip hazard!) and standing
water.

HOW TO FIX RAVELING IN ASPHALT

The first step in repairing raveled asphalt surface is to remove all loose material.
  If the raveling is limited to a small area, apply a simple asphalt patch.
 If you have, large raveled areas of pavement, this suggests general asphalt
failure. When this happens, the best long-term strategy is to remove the
damaged pavement then overlay with fresh asphalt. This will require the
services of an asphalt professional.

2. DEPRESSIONS

Figure 2. A water filled depression. Depressions in asphalt are usually caused by poor
compaction during the paving process.
Depressions are low areas of pavement that do not penetrate the asphalt and they are
typically caused by poor compaction during the paving process.
If not fixed quickly, the water and debris that typically collect in depressions can wear on
the asphalt surface and weaken its integrity.

HOW TO FIX DEPRESSIONS IN ASPHALT

 A temporary fix for minor depressions is a simple asphalt patch on top of the
existing pavement. However, patching will not solve the underlying problem of
poor compaction so the affected area may continue to sink.
 Permanent repair of asphalt depressions requires that the affected area be
removed, the poor sub-grade be replaced, and a full-depth patch be applied over
the repaired sub-grade.

3. POTHOLES
Figure 3. Potholes in asphalt pavement are often due to changes in weather, standing
water or an influx of heavy traffic.
Potholes are small, bowl-shaped depressions in the pavement surface that penetrate all
the way through the asphalt layer down to the base course. The edges of the potholes
can be quite sharp and potholes in asphalt pavement will increase in size over time as
moisture infiltrates the affected area.
Potholes in asphalt are typically the end result of alligator cracking (also known as
fatigue cracking.) As alligator cracking becomes severe, the interconnected cracks
create chunks of pavement, which can be dislodged as vehicles drive over them. A
pothole is what we call the hole that is left after the pavement chunk is dislodged.
These notorious safety hazards are one of the most common pavement defects. The
depth of the pothole and the roughness of its edges can cause serious damage to
vehicles and can be a trip hazard to pedestrian traffic.

HOW TO FIX POTHOLES IN ASPHALT

There are multiple ways to fix potholes. Below, we describe two common methods.
THROW-AND-ROLL [1]

1. Place the patching material into the pothole without any preparation or
water/debris removal.
2. Compact the patching material using the patching truck tires (usually 4 to 8
passes).
3. Check the compacted patch for a slight crown. If a depression is present add
more patching material and compact.

SEMI-PERMANENT POTHOLE PATCH [1]

1. Remove water and debris from the pothole.

2. Square up the pothole sides so they are vertical and have intact pavement on all
sides.
3. Place the patching material into the clean squared-up hole. The material should
mound in the center and taper down to the edges so that it meets flush with the
surrounding pavement edges.
 4. Compact the patching material using a vibratory plate compactor or a single-drum
vibratory roller. Start compacting in the center and work out toward the edges and
check that the compacted patching material has a slight crown. This is done so
that subsequent traffic loading will compact it down to the surrounding pavement
height.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). (June 1998). Long-Term Monitoring of

[1]

Pavement Maintenance Materials Test Sites, Publication No. FHWA-RD-98-073.

Office of Engineering Research and Development, Federal Highway Administration.
McLean, VA.

4. ALLIGATOR CRACKING

Figure 4. Alligator cracking is caused by structural failures in the asphalt combined with
continuous heavy traffic.
Fatigue cracking (a.k.a. alligator cracking) is one of the most common ways that asphalt
pavement can deteriorate over time. It gets its name from the distinctive cracking
patterns that resemble the scales on an alligator’s back.
Alligator cracking is a type of load-related deterioration resulting from:

 a weakened base course or sub-grade,

 too little pavement thickness,
 overloading, or
 a combination of these factors

Once alligator cracks form, the pavement will continue to deteriorate unless you take
action.

HOW TO FIX ALLIGATOR CRACKING IN ASPHALT

 A short term fix is to apply crack filler or sealcoating to stop water and debris
from getting into the cracks and making them worse. Next, if at all possible you
should restrict traffic in the affected area because vehicles driving over the
weakened pavement will damage the asphalt surface further.
  Permanent repair of an area of alligator cracking in asphalt pavement requires
digging below the surface to discover the underlying problems, then strengthening
the asphalt’s base. This requires trained experts who will remove the damaged
section of asphalt and replace it with a properly installed sub-base and fresh
asphalt surface.

5. LONGITUDINAL CRACKING

Figure 5. Longitudinal cracks in asphalt occur because of pavement fatigue or due to

asphalt shrinkage during low temperatures.
Longitudinal cracks in asphalt paving are cracks that run in the direction of asphalt
application (along a driveway or road.) They can be caused by various factors including:

 poorly constructed joints

 shrinking/expansion of the asphalt with temperature cycles, and
 cracks reflecting up from an underlying layer

The presence of longitudinal cracks in asphalt paving is not load-related.

HOW TO FIX LONGITUDINAL CRACKS IN ASPHALT

 Smaller Cracks (less than ½” wide) – Use a crack sealant to stop moisture
getting into the sub-grade layers through the cracks, and to prevent raveling of the
crack edges. Follow crack sealing with a fresh application of sealcoating over a
larger area.
 Larger Cracks (more than ½” wide) – Engage an asphalt professional to
diagnose the cause of your severe longitudinal cracks and recommend a long
term solution.

6. BLOCK CRACKING
Figure 6. Block cracking can occur as a result of poor paving technique or the use of
older, dried out asphalt.
Block cracking is a patch of large (about one foot or more), rectangular cracks in an
asphalt pavement’s surface. This type of cracking typically covers large areas and may
occur even where there is no traffic as this type of asphalt defect is not load-dependent.
Block cracking typically happens when the asphalt binder can’t expand and contract
with temperature cycles because of age-related hardening, or because of poor choice
of asphalt binder in the mix.

HOW TO FIX BLOCK CRACKING IN ASPHALT

The strategy for fixing block cracking depends on the size and severity of the cracks:
Smaller block cracks (less than ½” wide) with little raveling – Use crack sealant to
stop moisture getting into the sub-grade through the cracks and to prevent raveling of the
edges. Follow crack sealing with a fresh application of sealcoating over a larger area.
Larger block cracks (more than ½” wide) and with raveled edges – Engage an asphalt
professional to remove and replace the cracked pavement layer with an overlay.

7. EDGE CRACKS
Figure 7. Edge cracks are mostly caused by heavy traffic that is near the edge of the
pavement. Inadequate drainage, poor underlying layers, and asphalt shrinkage can also
contribute to the formation of edge cracks.
Edge cracks are longitudinal cracks that develop within one or two feet of the outer edge
of a pavement and are more commonly seen on rural roads and driveways than in city
streets.
Edge cracking happens because of a lack of support at the pavement edge and,
because rural roads and driveways tend to be narrow, traffic is forced to drive close to
these outer edges.
Poor drainage, poor quality base/sub-base, and asphalt shrinkage can also
contribute to the formation of edge cracks. If you don’t take care of edge cracks, they will
expand and lengthen, and more will appear toward the centerline of the pavement.

HOW TO FIX EDGE CRACKS IN ASPHALT

You are much better off preventing edge cracks than fixing them. Here are a few tips on
how to do this:

1. Make sure there is good drainage at the pavement edge

2. Confirm that you have a strong, cohesive base set
3. Apply a layer of sealcoating as soon as the asphalt is cured to protect it from
damage caused by weather, temperature changes, and overall usage.

If edge cracks appear despite your best efforts to prevent them, you can fix the problem
as follows:

 Minor edge cracks – Use crack sealant to fill smaller cracks at the first sign of
damage.
 More significant edge cracks – Fix damage using a patching or replacing
method that addresses the root cause of the edge cracks.

8. ASPHALT UPHEAVAL
Figure 8. Asphalt upheaval is caused by an expansion of soil underneath the affected
area. This expansion is often due to increased moisture in the soil or expansion of water
as it freezes.
Upheaval is a localized upward movement in your asphalt pavement due to swelling of
the sub-grade due to freezing or excess moisture. Frost heave is one example of this
type of distress.

HOW TO FIX ASPHALT UPHEAVAL

Since asphalt upheaval is caused by problems in the pavement sub-grade, the best
solution is removal of the affected area and application of a full-depth asphalt patch.

At Murphree Paving, we provide high-quality asphalt paving, asphalt repair and asphalt
maintenance to residential, commercial municipal and industrial clients.
Call (662) 793-2836 during business hours to get a guaranteed same day response.
Get in touch with us today to request your free quote.
Raveling and it prevention

It can be hard to distinguish between the many road distresses

unless you’re an engineer or construction specialist. Our
series, Distress Call, will help you identify between the various
classes of distresses. Today, let’s talk about raveling.

Raveling is the disintegration of an asphalt road surface. It is due to

the dislodgment of the aggregate materials (gravel, sand, and
crushed stone). It reduces skid resistance, roughens the road surface,
and exposes the layers underneath to further deterioration. Raveling
also results in loose gravel that can be dangerous for your vehicles.
Remember Pop Rocks? Driving over a raveled road will sound similar
to the candy crackling on your tongue.
 Example of a disintegrated asphalt road.
Why Raveling Occurs
Raveling can occur due to the following reasons:

 Age: Asphalt pavements ravel when the asphalt binder ages

and hardens.
 Traffic: It occurs commonly in high traffic areas due to wear and
tear. If there is a lot of truck traffic (heavier loads), the chances
of raveling are even higher.
 Poor Aggregate Mix: The asphalt mix should have a proper
balance of different sized rocks, to ensure that it packs well,
without forming air gaps. Fine particles, like sand, are a crucial
component because it produces a solid packing structure. The
 mix ratios should be calculated based on the local climate and
expected traffic loads.
 Poor Compaction: Good pavements have high density, which
requires adequate compaction. Without proper compaction, the
aggregate will not bond well with the binder. Asphalt should be
compacted at higher temperatures (a minimum of 290℉ or
higher) to ensure proper binding.
 Dust: Accumulation of dust causes the binder to adhere to the
dust, which will ultimately weaken the aggregate bonding.
Deterioration accelerates with vehicular traffic.
 Moisture: The presence of moisture during paving makes the
binder ineffective at adhering to the aggregate.
How to Fix Raveling
First, assess the pavement. Second, repair the pavement depending
on the type of damage that has occured.

 For low severity raveling (localized): Remove raveled area and

then patch.
 For high severity raveling (widespread): Remove damaged area
and apply an overlay.
Localized Raveling
 Widespread Raveling
Prevention is Essential
Keep this in mind, what matters most is prevention.

When constructing new roads, choose a high-quality binder and a

balanced mix of aggregates recommended for local weather
conditions. Different climates and regions require specially
formulated aggregates and binder content to allow pavements to
function optimally and last longer without wearing down. Use a
preventative sealant layer based on traffic volumes. This could be a
fog seal, a seal coat, micro-surfacing, or a thin overlay of hot-mix
asphalt (HMA Thin Overlay).

And finally, the simplest and most cost-effective way to prevent

raveling is to keep the streets clean. Maintenance goes a long way,
so keep this in mind as you go forward with your road assessments.

How RoadBotics Identifies Raveling

RoadBotics’ AI identifies pavement distresses and assigns conditional
ratings on a 1-5 scale, where 1 equates to ‘no or minor surface
distress’ and 5 is ‘major surface damage and/or critical fatigue
issues.’

In our methodology, raveling is categorized as a surface

deterioration. The following image is raveling captured on RoadWay,
RoadBotics proprietary GIS-enabled pavement assessment platform.
Want to learn more about how RoadBotics technologies can help you
monitor the effects of distresses on your pavement? Contact a
RoadBotics Expert today!

Sources

1. Asphalt Magazine
2. Pavement Interactive
3. Sure Seal Pavement
Article adapted from Everything Roads. Original title ‘Know Thy
Enemy’ written by Nikhil Ranga.