ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Asphalt overlay has been largely the pavement rehabilitation method for both asphalt and concrete pavements. However, asphalt overlay is susceptible to the deterioration due to the distresses in underlying pavements. Therefore, proper selection of pre-overlay repair and overlay construction method is critical to overlay pavement performance. This study addresses a statistical analysis of overlay performance to identify factors that could mitigate reflective cracking in overlay. Data related to previous overlay design, materials, and construction was reviewed and analyzed, such as as-built plan, pre-overlay condition, overlay materials, overlay thickness, preoverlay repair, maintenance history, and overlay performance. A concept of distress development rate, as opposed to overlay pavement condition rating, was defined as the overlay performance to characterize overlay performance. It was found that for existing concrete pavement, full-depth doweled concrete repair is needed to control reflective cracking in asphalt overlay. It was also found, the amount of pre-overlay repair greatly affects the overlay performance. Increasing the ratio of overlay thickness to milling depth could effectively mitigate the reflective cracking in overlay on existing asphalt pavement.
