Table 1 . Life-extending benefit as a function of pretreatment condition
Beginning with Section L5 where only a crack sealing treatment was applied to the pavement , results showed 100 % less cracking than the control group at year one . At year two , this same section developed 75 % fewer cracks compared to the control section , which again received no treatment .
Section L6 received a chip seal treatment only . At year one , the pavement experienced 100 % less cracking . After the first seasonal cycle as winter turned to spring at approximately 18 months post-treatment , the chip seal had more cracking than the control section . These types of treatments and materials are not able to withstand the anticipated movement of the pavement from summer to winter . In a short time , the treatment lost all value as compared to having done no work at all .
Section L7 reported the amount of cracking after a chip seal with a crack seal pretreatment . At years one and two , 100 % less cracking was reported compared to the control . In comparison , the test section that had crack sealing applied as a pretreatment to chip seal surface treatment , performed with 100 % effectiveness and had no cracking over the same period and seasonal change . Crack sealing can move with the pavement , preserving the performance of the surface treatment .
By crack sealing as a pretreatment before advancing to a chip seal , the pavement went from 25 % more cracking with a chip seal alone to 100 % less cracking with the application of a chip seal over a crack seal pretreatment . A small investment in crack sealing yields a large return .
Section L11 reported the amount of cracking after a micro surfacing with a crack sealing pretreatment . At year one , 50 % less cracking than the control was reported . At year two , there was 15 % less cracking than the control .
Like the previous section , Section L12 reported the amount of cracking after a micro surface course that included a crack sealing pretreatment . At year one , 90 % less cracking was reported . At year two , there was 60 % less cracking than the control . Crack sealing alone has a significant , immediate , and sustained benefit .
Effects over the study revealed crack sealing reduces the development of interconnected cracking , reduces subgrade moisture levels , and improves surface treatment results when used as a pretreatment .
Crack Seal Early and Often .
It begins as a crack , and an unsealed crack is a problem waiting to happen . Pavement is always moving , expanding , and contracting with temperature changes and traffic loads , and no pavement is immune to cracking . What is proved through numerous studies is that crack sealing is the lowest-cost-with-the-highestbenefit preservation treatment and provides life-extending benefits as either a stand-alone treatment or in combination with other preservation activities like chip sealing and micro surfacing .
Simply put , crack sealing works . Do you have an annual crack sealing program for your pavement ?
Ade Craig is a Content Development Writer with Crafco , Inc . For more information , please visit Crafco . com or call ( 800 ) 528-8242 .
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