Evaluation of crack relief layer for roads and highways

• Main Author: Mustafa, Khairul Hafiz
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/53887/1/KhairulHafizMustafaMFKA2016.pdf; http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/53887/; http://dms.library.utm.my:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:86568

Roads and highways are the most important mode of transportation systems for development of a nation. In order to fulfill this purpose, the pavement must be able to provide a safe and comfortable riding surface to the road users. However, pavement deterioration is a major obstacle that can prevent a pavement from serving its main purposes. Crack relief layer (CRL) is a layer that is placed in between the new overlay and the old pavement in order to dissipate pavement movements before it creates stress in a new overlay surface. From previous implementation of CRL in airport and runways, the performance is promising to be used in roads and highways in order to overcome pavement distress. This study is done in order to understand the properties of CRL layer as there is limited research carried out previously. It is expected that this study could help develop or improve design standards and/or material or construction specifications to minimize the cracks development on pavement. In this study, bitumen penetration grade 80-100 was used at 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4% in order to determine the most suitable percentage of bitumen that should be used for CRL sample. The sample was tested by using Marshall Test in order to determine its parameter such as density, stability, flow, void content in total mix (VTM), and void filled with bitumen (VFB). The results indicated that 3% of bitumen as the most suitable percentage of bitumen that should be used for CRL. CRL layer also had higher resilient modulus compare to other pavement type which shows that it able to absorb the stress been exerted on it more efficiently and prevent the crack from top and bottom of the road from spreading to the surface and also the subgrade. This shows that CRL had the potential to be the solution for road distress that occurs on the pavement.