Linking the Field and Lab Performance of Interstate Pavements

In 1999, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) began an ambitious program to rehabilitate over 300 miles of Interstate in 5 years. As part of this rehabilitation program, approximately 270 miles of deteriorated concrete pavement was rubblized and overlayed in an attempt to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional removal and replacement of the pavement structure. Many of the pavements constructed during this program are exhibiting a severe level of cracking. Most of these severely cracked asphalt pavements are located west of Conway on Interstate 40; while the rubblized pavements east of Little Rock on I-40 and I-30, which were constructed at virtually the same time, exhibit much less cracking. In this research, two interstate sections are compared. One section was evaluated as “good” condition and the second “poor” condition. A full forensic analysis included a review of the job diaries, rutting and cracking development over the life of the pavement, mix design, mixture testing from cores, and binder testing from cores. Several properties are currently being evaluated and discussed with AHTD in order to prevent future premature deterioration of the state highway network.