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Flexible Pavement Evaluation: A Case Study

Conference Paper in Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research · August 2017

DOI: 10.24017/science.2017.3.33

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Kurdistan Journal for Applied Research kjar.spu.edu.iq
Volume 2, Issue 3, August 2017 P-ISSN: 2411-7684 – E-ISSN: 2411-7706

Flexible Pavement Evaluation: A Case Study

Shamil Ahmed Flamarz Al-Arkawazi
Building and Construction Engineering Department
University of Garmian
Kalar, Sulaimani, Iraq
shamil.flamarz@garmian.edu.krd

Abstract: This study is a survey to evaluate the flexible Other pavement types include semi rigid or composite
pavement conditions to determine and specify the types pavement and interlock (behartoon) cement concrete
of the failures in the pavement for the selected blocks pavement. These pavement types are less familiar
highway. It is very significant to evaluate and identify than flexible and rigid pavement [1].
the causes of the flexible pavement failures and select Flexible pavement design is the process and method of
the proper and best treatment and maintenance type. selecting the most effective and economical composition
The study had two major and critical goals which of flexible pavement courses or layers (taking in
covered by considering the following three tasks; the consideration the thickness of the pavement and type of
first was the visual evaluation and inspection of selected materials) to fit the subgrade foundation. And
existing flexible pavement conditions including the cumulative traffic axle load to be carried and handled
failures, the second to determine and find out the during the pavements’ design life. Flexible pavement
actual causes of these failures in the pavement, and structure design is different from building design and the
the third is to select the most and effective treatments bridges because of the fact that the design of pavement
and maintenance types. As a case study, Khanaqin- until today is based on semi-empirical or empirical
Kalar 2-way 2-lane rural highway was selected for method and there is no rationalistic design method.
evaluation and inspection purposes. The field Flexible pavement design consists mainly from two steps
evaluation works were achieved on the existing flexible or parts:
pavement conditions of the selected rural highway. The 1- Material mix design to be used in each layer of
results were most of the damages and failures in the the pavement.
pavement are serious and extreme surface deformation, 2- Design the structure of the pavement (design
cracks, disintegration, and surface defects. These the thickness of each layer with its component).
damages and failures are caused by fatigue and other The main and major factors to be taken in consideration
types of failures resulted from the movement of heavy in the flexible pavement design are:
vehicles and trucks, poor drainage design, unsuitable 1- Traffic volume.
pavement layers thickness design, and improper 2- Climate and weather conditions along the year.
pavement mix design and selected materials. 3- The road geometric design.
4- Position.
Keywords: Flexible pavement, failure, deterioration, 5- Soil or subgrade
rural highway, evaluation survey. 6- Drainage.
Road maintenance is one of the significant components
1. INTRODUCTION of the complete road system. Even if the highways are
designed and constructed in a good way, they may still
Ordinarily the term pavement only means the surface require maintenance, the range that will depend on
layer [1]. But in the designing of the highways, it means several factors which include the type of pavement [3].
the pavement total thickness including wearing A flexible pavement consists from several layers of
(surfacing) course, base course and sub-base course. It is granular materials covered with bituminous material
hard and tough crust constructed over the natural (waterproof), and as its name mean, it is considered to be
subgrade in order to provide stable and leveled or flat flexible. The flexible pavement will bend (flex) under
surface for vehicles. It is a structure consist from the applied load of the tyre. The objective of designing a
overlies layers of materials over the natural subgrade flexible pavement is to avoid extreme flexing of any of
which its primary and major function is to transfer and the layers, failure or un-ability to achieve its cause over
distribute the vehicles’ axle loads to the subgrade. The stressing of a layer, which finally will cause the failure
structure of pavement should provide acceptable riding of the pavement. In the flexible pavements, the
quality surface, sufficient skid resistance and minimum distribution pattern of load changes from one pavement
noise pollution [2]. layer to another, because the strength of each pavement
For designing purposes and depending on structural layer is different. The least flexible and strongest
function and behavior, the road pavements types are material is in the top layer and the most flexible and
generally divided or classified into two types: weakest material is in the lowest layer. The reason for
i. Flexible (bitumen) pavement. that is at the surface the wheel load is applied over small
ii. Rigid pavement. area, the result will be high stress level, and deeper down
in flexible pavement, the load will be applied over a

http://dx.doi.org/10.24017/science.2017.3.33
larger area and the result will be lower stress levels, maintenance of transportation system are the main
consequently enabling the use of less quality or weaker accident causes. Therefore a successful and good
materials [4]. engineer is a person whose is not only able to design the
Pavement failure and deterioration process starts highway or roads, but also have sufficient skills to
immediately after opening the road to vehicles (traffic). maintain the highways and roads [6].
The process of failure and deterioration starts very A flexible pavement (bituminous) failure and
patiently therefore it may not be noticeable, and over the deterioration is defined by consistence of ruts, cracks,
time it get faster and accelerates at quicker rates. To potholes, settlements, localized depression, etc. normally
minimize premature failure and deterioration, it is vital the localized depression is followed with rising in the
to implement the best method in planning, the designing, proximity (vicinity). The sequence creates waves in the
construction and maintenance of the highway or the surface of the pavement. The failure or deterioration of
road. It can be accomplished by testing and inspecting any one or more of flexible pavement structure
pavements that have early failed. The focus was to components creates the corrugation and waves on the
determine the causes of failure and deterioration in order surface of the pavement or rutting and shoving.
to be prevented in the future. The biggest understanding Unleveled (unevenness) flexible pavement may itself
of flexible failures which can be gained from detailed consider as a failure and deterioration when it is
evaluation and investigation could be significant in excrescent. The flexible pavement failure and
reducing the costs related to pavement failures and deterioration subject is considered to be complicated as
deterioration in the future. In many cases the failure and several factors participate to its failure and deterioration.
deterioration of flexible pavement structure can be The oxidation and aging of asphalt (bituminous) films
directly justified by insufficient maintenance and cause the failure and deterioration of flexible pavement
insufficient programs of evaluation. Under a limited (bituminous pavement). Destructive actions in flexible
budget it is very important to reduce and minimize the pavement are quickly increased when surplus water is
maintenance costs. For the mentioned purpose it is very retained in the flexible pavement void spaces [3].
important to consider and select a simple way or method Flexible pavement failure and deterioration can be
for inspection (surveying) and evaluation of flexible considered as functional, structural, materials
pavement failures [5]. failure, and a combination of the mentioned
Flexible pavement (bituminous) failure and deterioration factors. Structural failure and deterioration is
generally occurs due to combined action of traffic losing the ability of carrying load, when the
volume and load, weather conditions and changes, flexible pavement not any more able to absorb,
drainage and environmental agent. Generally the flexible transmit and distribute wheels load through the
pavement fail and deteriorate at very fast rate when road structure without causing extra or more failure
compared to rigid pavement because the mentioned and deterioration. Functional failure is a boundary
above factors. Flexible pavements continue to fail and (border) term which may refer to the loss of any
deteriorate at slow rate even without vehicles (traffic) function of the flexible pavement such as structural
movement on the flexible pavement surface as a result of capacity, skid resistance, and serviceability or
the weather and environmental factors action. Rate of passenger comfort. Material failure result from the
failure and deterioration of flexible pavement loss or disintegration of material characteristics of
(bituminous pavement) rapidly increase when water is any of pavement component materials [7].
hold in the void spaces of the flexible pavement layers. Flexible pavement deterioration and failure is
Oxidation and aging of asphalt (bituminous) binder also defined as a decreasing in the serviceability
lead to the failure and deterioration of the asphalt resulted from the development of surface failure
(bituminous) surfacing [1]. and deterioration such as rutting, cracking and
potholes [8]. It was reported that the highway
engineers should look into the causes of flexible
2. LITERATURE REVIEW pavement (bituminous pavement) before going into
Transportation system takes a special role in the the strategies of the maintenance. It was found that
economical development of any country. By the good deterioration and failure of flexible pavement are
transportation system means; comfortable, safe, rapid, resulted from combination or many of reasons. It
and convenient, the people communication becomes has been noticed that only three factors; rutting,
possible and which is fundamental for various goods unevenness index and cracking are considered
distribution in the country that is important and basic for while other failures have been neglected while
its economic, industry and environment. The good going to maintenance [5].
highway system is very significant for the developing The major types of flexible pavement failures are
country to get the way to the modern society. In order to failure of surface texture or deformation failure.
have good transportation system, various factors of Deformation failures and deterioration include
failure and deterioration of the highway or road should rutting, shoving, depression, corrugation and
be taken in consideration. Highway maintenance is very potholes. These failures and deterioration may
important for the traffic management as a whole. The result from traffic volume (load associated) or
various defects in the roads resulted from weak environmental influences (non-load associated). It
might reflect serious problems in materials or
underlying structure that may cause cracking. moisture or water entry are lubrication of particles,
Failure in the surface texture includes polishing, interlock loss between the particles and later particles
bleeding, cracking, raveling and stripping. These displacement which cause flexible pavement failure and
failures in the flexible pavement show that while deterioration.
the road pavement could be structurally sound, the 3.3. Subgrade Soil
surface is not functionally performing which Subgrade is the flexible pavement underlying soil that
designed for, which normally providing skid support and handle the applied vehicles wheel loads. Too
resistance, water tightness and smooth is running weak subgrade will fail to support and handle the
surface. Other various types of flexible pavement vehicles wheel loads, which cause the pavement to flex
failures and deterioration include patching, edge extremely which finally cause the failure of the flexible
defects and roughness [5]. pavement. If the flexible pavement designer not taking
The evaluation survey and assessment of the flexible the difference in natural composition of subgrade soil in
pavement roads and highways is advantageous for consideration, significant and important differences in
transportation engineers because the reasons in the the flexible pavement performance will be witnessed.
following: 3.4. Construction Quality
1- It gives and provides accurate reason of flexible Failure to provide adequate compaction, inappropriate
pavement failure and deterioration which makes moisture content or conditions during the pavement
the maintenance works easy. construction, materials quality, and providing accurate
2- Will provide good knowledge about flexible flexible pavement layers thickness (after the compaction
pavement failure and deterioration, which make is finished) all mentioned conditions will effect directly
the transportation engineers able to design and on the performance of the flexible pavement. It is very
make high quality and performance roads and important and significant to provide skillful staff, good
highways flexible pavement. and adequate inspection and a procedure of quality
3- Study the failure and deterioration of flexible control during the construction works. 
pavement in specific area helps in improving 3.5. Maintenance
the design of flexible pavement which can be Regardless how well the flexible pavement is built, it
more effective in term of safety, quality, and will start to deteriorate and fail over the time. The
performance in the area. performance of flexible pavement depend on what type
The objective of current study can be summarized in the of maintenance, when to be done and how to be
following: performed.
1- Visual evaluation and inspection of existing
flexible pavement conditions including the
4. TYPES OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT
failures and deterioration.
2- Determine and find out the actual causes of FAILURE OR DETERIORATION
these failures and deterioration in the flexible The common types of failure or deterioration in flexible
pavement. pavement are classified in to the following four major
3- Select the most proper and effective treatments groups [1]:
and maintenance types. i. Surface deformation
 Corrugations
 Rutting
3. FACTORS EFFECTING AND  Shoving
INFLUENCING THE FLEXIBLE  Shallow depressions
PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE  Settlement and Upheaval
ii. Cracking
The major factors that influencing the flexible pavement  Fatigue Cracking
performance [4]:
 Transverse Cracking
3.1. Traffic Volume and Load   Longitudinal Cracking
It is the most significant and influential factor effecting
 Edge Cracking
and influencing flexible pavement performance. The
flexible pavement performance is mostly affected and  Reflective Cracking
influenced by the traffic load magnitude, loading iii. Disintegration
configuration, and heavy vehicles load repetitions  Potholes
number.   Patches
iv. Surface defects
3.2. Moisture or Water
 Raveling
Moisture is considerably and significantly affect the
flexible pavement by weaken the natural gravel materials  Bleeding
especially the subgrade support strength. Moisture or The common types of flexible pavement failure or
water enter the flexible pavement structure through holes deterioration and its expected or possible causes are
and cracks in pavement surface, laterally (horizontally) listed in Table 1 [8] [3] [4].
through subgrade soil and from the water table
(underlying) by the action of capillary. The results of
 recoverable deformation and, as the number of load
Table 1: The common flexible pavement failure types repetitions increases, the plastic strain due to each load
and their expected or possible causes [3] [4] [8] . repetition decreases. The deformation of materials is the
Failure Type Expected or Possible Causes result of three mechanisms: the consolidation
mechanism (the change in the shape and compressibility
Alligator  Fatigue failure due to flexible/brittle base.
of particle assemblies); the distortion mechanism
cracking  Inadequate pavement thickness.
characterized by bending, sliding, and rolling of the
Block  Reflection of joints cracking in
cracking underlying base.
particles; and the crushing and the breaking of the
 Reflection cracking.
particles occur when the applied load exceeds the
 Poor paving lane joint. strength of particles [9].
Longitudinal This study conducted to estimate and predict the flexible
 Pavement widening.
cracking pavement road failure rate with particular references to
 Cut/fill differential settlement.
 Fatigue failure of asphalt concrete. cracking and other types of failures and deteriorations
Transverse  Reflection of shrinkage cracking. using available data. Data for the study was collected
cracking  Construction joints. from related government departments (data related to the
 Inadequate pavement thickness. history of the selected highway and its construction) and
Rutting  Post construction compaction. an exploratory evaluation survey of the selected
 Instability of base surfacing. highway. The exploratory survey is a method employed
 Poor bond between layers. in road performance modeling and is chosen in this study
Shoving  Lack of edge containment. in order to scientifically evaluate the road.
 Inadequate pavement thickness. The adopted methodology is as follows:
 Settlement of service trench or 1. Identification and selecting the proposed study
embankment. area.
Depression
 Isolated consolidation. 2. Review of the performance, behavior, failure
 Volume change of subgrade and deterioration of flexible pavements
 Instability of asphalt concrete or base exposed and subjected to traffic and local
Corrugation
course. climatic conditions.
 Inadequate pavement width. 3. Collection of relevant data from related
Edge drop  Erodible shoulder material (lack of government departments.
plasticity).
4. Analyzing the collected data in order to create
 Inadequate pavement width.
clear and scientific evaluation of the selected
 Inadequate edge support.
Edge break highway.
 Traffic travelling on shoulder edge drop.
5. Discuss the suitable and appropriate solutions
 Weak seal coat/loss of adhesion.
based on the pavement failures and
 It is a result of insufficient adhesion
between the asphalt cement and the deteriorations.
aggregate.
Raveling
 Initially, a fine aggregate break loose and
leaves small, rough patches in the surface
6. THE CASE STUDY AND STUDY AREA
of the pavement. For the purposes of this study Khanaqin-Kalar 2-lane 2-
 Potholes are often located in areas of poor way rural highway selected. This rural highway is
drainage. connecting Khanaqin City the center of Khanaqin
 Potholes are formed when the pavement District with Kalar City the center of Kalar District. The
Potholes disintegrates under traffic loading, due to
inadequate strength in one or more layers
length of this rural highway is 33 Km of flexible
of the pavement, usually accompanied by pavement, and it is one of the very important highways
the presence of water. because it is working as a connecting link between
Caused by traffic movement (vehicles Diyala Governorate with Sulaimaniya and Kirkuk
Polishing Governorates from the northeast of Iraq in addition to
movement).
 Filling the holes with asphalt concrete that it is leading to Iraq-Iran border (see Figure 1 and
without cleaning and preparing and doing 2).
Patches the required works for maintenance. In 2005 Kurdistan Ministry of Rehabilitation and
 Filling the holes without doing proper Housing\ Garmian Directorate of Roads and
leveling and compaction. Transportation, established this 2-lane 2-way rural
highway by repaving existing two sections (marked with
5. METHODOLGY red color in Figure 1) by new asphalt layer and
connected them by constructing new section (marked
The deformation response of flexible pavements under
with green color in Figure 1), and since then this
traffic loading is characterized by recoverable
highway is maintained only one time during its life but
deformations and permanent deformations. The
still suffering from severe types of failure and
permanent deformation is much smaller than the
deterioration.
  Section 2: from Sauz-Balakh village to Saleh
Agha villages (8 Km length). It completely new
construction in 2005.
 Section 3: from Saleh Agha village to Kalar
city (5 Km length). It was existed flexible part
re-paved in 2005 with new layer of asphalt.

Figure 1 Khanaqin-Kalar 2-lane 2-way rural highway

route location (Google Map)

Figure 3 Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway three sections

(Google Map)

In order to determine and evaluate the existing

conditions of the selected rural highway, a several field
assessment survey conducted on the three sections of the
highway. The results of the evaluation filed assessment
survey showed that the pavement of this rural highway is
suffering from the following types of failure and
deterioration:
 Rutting (see Figure 4)
 Cracking (alligator cracking, block cracking
and edge cracking) (see Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
Figure 2 Khanaqin and Kalar locations in the northeast 10, 11 and 13).
of Iraq (Google Map)
 Potholes (see Figures 9, 10, 12 and 13)
 Polishing (see Figures 9, 11 and 12)
7. RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION
 Depression (see Figures 6, 10 and 11)
SURVEY AND ASSESMENT
 Raveling (see Figures 9 and 10)
As mentioned above Khanaqin-Kalar 2-lane 2-way rural
highway, established in 2005 by Kurdistan Ministry of  Patching (see Figure 10 and 13)
Rehabilitation and Housing\ Garmian Directorate of
Roads and Transportation. This highway consists of
three sections with the following information (see
Figure 3):
 Section 1: from Khanaqin city to Sauz-Balakh
village (20 Km length). It was existed flexible
part re-paved in 2005 with new layer of asphalt.
 Figure 7 Severe edge cracking and breaking, block
cracking, and alligator cracking failures in the
pavement of Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway

Figure 4 Rutting in the pavement of Khanaqin-

Kalar rural highway

Figure 8 Edge and block cracking failures in the

pavement of Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway

Figure 5 Severe blocking cracking failures in the

pavement of Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway

Figure 9 Severe edge break and cracking, block

cracking, alligator cracking, potholes, polishing,
raveling and polishing failures in the pavement of
Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway

Figure 6 Severe Edge cracking and breaking,

alligator cracking and depression failures in the
pavement of Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway
Figure 10 Severe potholes, raveling, alligator cracking Figure 13 Bad patching, block cracking, alligator
Depression and bad patching failures in the pavement cracking, and pothole failures in the pavement of
of Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway

The results of the evaluation survey and assessment for

Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway total length and its three
sections are illustrated in Table 2 and Figures 14, 15, 16
and 17.

Table 2: The results of the evaluation survey and

assessment for Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway as a whole
and its three sections
Percentage of the Damage in the Highway Based on
the Failure Type (%)

Type of the Total

Figure 11 Polishing, Depression and alligator cracking Failure or Length of
failures in the pavement of Khanaqin-Kalar rural Deterioration Section 1 Section 2 Section 3
the
(20 Km) (8 Km) (5 Km)
highway Highway
(33 Km)

Rutting 15 0 100 24.24

Alligator
27 5 0 17.57
Cracking
Block
20 2 0 12.6
Cracking
Edge
15 2 2 9.87
Cracking
Potholes 42.5 50 5 38.63
Polishing 35 90 40 49
Depression 30 1 1 18.57
Raveling 20 50 0 24.24
Figure 12 Polishing and pothole failures in the Patching 3 2 2 2.6
pavement of Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway
 100 100
90 90 Failure or Deterioration
80 80

Failure or Deterioration
Failure or Deterioration

Failure or Deterioration
70 70
60 60 49%
50 42.5% 50 38.63%

(%)
(%)

35%
40 30% 40
27% 24.24% 24.24%
30 20% 20% 30 17.57% 18.57%
15% 15% 20 12.6% 9.87%
20
10 3% 10 2.6%
0 0

Patching
Depression
Rutting

Alligator Cracking

Potholes

Polishing

Raveling
Block Cracking

Edge Cracking
Depression

Patching
Rutting

Alligator Cracking

Potholes

Polishing

Raveling
Block Cracking

Edge Cracking

Figure 14 The results of the evaluation survey and Figure 17 The results of the evaluation survey and
assessment for section 1 of Khanaqin-Kalar rural assessment for the total length of Khanaqin-Kalar rural
highway highway

8. DISCUSSION
The results of the evaluation survey and assessment
100 Failure or Deterioration 90%
90
showed that Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway suffer from
80 several types of pavement failures or deteriorations.
Deterioration (%)

70 Each section of the three sections of the rural highway is

Failure or

60 50% 50%
50
evaluated separately, as sections 1 and 3 were existed
40 parts and re-paved and section 2 was completely new
30 construction in establishing Khanaqin-Kalar rural
20
10 0%
5% 2% 2% 1% 2% highway in 2005.
0 The results of evaluation survey and assessment for the
Patching
Rutting

Depression
Potholes
Alligator Cracking

Polishing

Raveling
Edge Cracking
Block Cracking

three sections of Khanaqin-Kalar rural high clearly

indicated that there are number of severe failures and
deteriorations in the pavement of these sections as in the
following:
Figure 15 The results of the evaluation survey and I. Section 1: a significant percentage of the length
assessment for section 2 of Khanaqin-Kalar rural and area of this section of the rural highway suffer
highway from most of the types of pavement failure and
deterioration (see Table 2 and Figure 14). The
types of the failures with its percentages in section
1 and the expected causes of the failures are listed
100% in below:
100
90 Failure or Deterioration  Rutting (15% of section 1): the expected
80 cause of this failure is in 2014 the highway
Failure or Deterioration

70
used as alternative way by big number of
60
50 40%
traffic with heavy axel load resulted from big
(%)

40 trucks, big trailers and military trucks and

30 machines due to closing Kirkuk-Baghdad
20
10 0% 0% 2% 5%
1% 0% 2% highway because of military operations (war
0 against ISIS terrorist groups). The
Patching
Depression
Rutting

Alligator Cracking

Potholes

Polishing

Raveling
Edge Cracking
Block Cracking

thicknesses of pavement layers of this section

were not designed to carry such big number
of traffic and heavy axel loads, therefore
rutting failure occurred.
Figure 16 The results of the evaluation survey and  Alligator cracking (27% of section 1): the
assessment for section 3 of Khanaqin-Kalar rural expected causes are fatigue failure and un-
highway adequate pavement layers thickness to carry
un expected traffic loads (in 2014 the
highway used by big number of traffic with
heavy axel load resulted from big trucks, big
trailers and military trucks and machines due
to closing Kirkuk-Baghdad highway because
of the military operations of the war against
ISIS terrorist groups).
  Block cracking (20% of section 1) : the 16). The percentages of 4 types of failures and
expected causes are hot mix asphalt deteriorations in this section are small (edge
shrinkage and daily temperature changing cracking, potholes, Depression and patching). The
(cycling). Generally caused by un-ability of types of the failures with its percentages in section
asphalt binder to expand and contract with 3 and the expected causes of the failures are listed
temperature changes (cycles) because of in below:
asphalt binder (bitumen) aging.  Rutting (100% of section 3): the expected
 Edge cracking (15% of section 1): caused by causes of this failure are:
excess moisture resulted from bad drainage - This section is carrying additional
and lack of shoulders support due to weak traffic which is going to and coming
materials. from Parwiz-Khan border point with
 Potholes (42.5% of section 1): In general, Iran. All the additional traffic is
potholes are the final result of alligator heavy axel load vehicles (big trailers
cracking. As alligator cracking becomes and truck).
severe, the interconnected cracks create small - In 2014 the highway used as
blocks of pavement which displaced as alternative way by big number of
vehicles pass over them. The remaining hole traffic with heavy axel load resulted
after the pavement block is displaced is called from big trucks, big trailers and
a pothole. military trucks and machines due to
 Polishing (35% of section 1): caused by closing Kirkuk-Baghdad highway
repeated big traffic volume on an aging because of military operations (war
flexible pavement. It can cause a dangerous against ISIS terrorist groups). The
low friction surface with a low skid thicknesses of pavement layers of this
resistance. section were not designed to carry
 Depression (30% of section 1): caused by such big number of traffic and heavy
subgrade settlement resulted by insufficient axel loads, therefore rutting failure
compaction during construction or soft (poor occurred.
quality) subgrade.  Edge cracking (2% of section 3)
 Raveling (20% of section 1): caused by  Potholes (5% of section 3)
inadequate adhesion between the asphalt  Polishing (40% of section 3)
(bitumen), filler and the aggregate. This type  Depression (1% of section 3)
of failure typically occurs on an older  Patching (2% of section 3)
pavement that has already oxidized, and it Except the rutting failure, the causes of the failures and
can be accelerated by the environmental deteriorations in section 3 (edge cracking, potholes,
conditions and traffic volume. polishing, depression and patching) are the same as for
 Patching (3% of section 1): resulted from bad section 1 of the rural highway.
maintenance, where the damaged or failed The result of the evaluation survey and assessment of the
pavement to cleaned or removed in proper full length of Khanaqin-Kalar rural highway show that
way before laying the new pavement and also this rural highway suffers from serious problems. The
the new pavement is not leveled and pavement of this rural highway suffers from 9 types of
compacted in proper and standard way. failures and deteriorations (see Table 2 and Figure 17).

II. Section 2: this section of the rural highway suffer

from 8 types of failures (see Table 2 and Figure 9. CONCLUSION
15), but in general most of the failures and 1- Most the types of the failures and deterioration
deteriorations in this section are less severity than were found along the Khanaqin-Kalar rural
in section 1. The types of the failures with its highway.
percentages in section 2 are listed in below: 2- The severity of the failures and deteriorations
 Alligator cracking (5% of section 2) ranges from medium to high in the pavement of
the rural highway.
 Block cracking (2% of section 2)
3- The major causes of the failures and
 Edge cracking (2% of section 2)
deteriorations in the selected rural highway are:
 Potholes (50% of section 2)
 Additional traffic volume with high axel
 Polishing (90% of section 2) loads which were not taken in
 Depression (1% of section 2) consideration during designing the
 Raveling (50% of section 2) pavement layers thicknesses of the selected
 Patching (2% of section 2) rural highway.
The causes of the failures and deteriorations in section 2  Poor or absent of drainage design.
are the same as for section 1 of the rural highway.  Unsuitable pavement layers thickness
III. Section 3: this section of the rural highway suffers design.
from 6 types of failures (see Table 2 and Figure
  Improper pavement mix design and
selected materials.
4- The suggested maintenance or treatments are:
 The highway shoulder improvement.
 Removing the heavily damaged or
structurally destroyed pavement and
patching its places.
 Overlying with new layer of asphalt
pavement with adequate thickness.

10. REFERENCE
[1] M. T. Highway, T. Engineering, C. Engineering,
and J. National, “Bituminous Pavement Failures
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Biography
Shamil Ahmed Flamarz Al-Arkawazi received the B.Sc.
degree in Building and Construction Engineering in
1999 and M.Sc. Degree in Highway and Airport
Engineering in 2003 from Building and Construction
Engineering Department- University of Technology-
Baghdad. He is assistant lecturer and his present
occupation is Head of Building and Construction
Engineering Department- University of Garmian.
Author’s Google scholar page:
https://scholar.google.com/schhp?hl=en&lr=lang_en&as
_sdt=0,5

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