Evaluation of Paving Fabric Test Installations in California

摘要

California installed many experimental construction evaluated research (CER) (Category II) test sections incorporating pavement reinforcing fabric (PRF) interlayers in asphalt concrete (AC) overlays during the late 1970's and early 1980's. The overlays with PRF which covered distressed AC and portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements were evaluated to determine their performance in retarding cracking of the AC overlays. The overlays in twenty-eight test locations were evaluated to determine the effect of a PRF interlayer on AC overlay thickness and waterproofing ability. Also evaluated was how much effect pavement deflections, differential vertical movements at PCC pavement joints and cracks, climate, and traffic had on the performance of the AC overlays. The findings reveal that a PRF interlayer can be an effective waterproofing barrier, and that the PRF interlayer may be equivalent to approximately 0.10 foot of AC thickness in retarding reflection cracking. Unanswered by the study was the value of PRF interlayers in AC overlays over cracked and seated PCC, and whether one PRF is superior to another.