ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the possible distresses and their relationship to the performance of a pavement. There are different forms of distresses in asphalt pavements, each tied to a specific reason or a combination thereof, and most happening as a result of traffic. Edge fatigue cracks are formed due to poor underlying support at the edge of the pavements with paved shoulders. This distress, found on wheelpaths, begins as a series of interconnected cracks and develops into a chicken wire/alligator pattern. Exposed and polished coarse aggregate occur due to surface mortar and paste loss, which results in a significant reduction of surface friction. Distress is measured in square meters of affected surface area. In the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design process, the loss of serviceability (PSI) is referred to as damage. This damage is considered to be caused by traffic, environmental conditions, and age. In mechanistic–empirical pavement design processes, the performance of the pavement is expressed in terms of distresses.
