Pavement Inspection

Joint Reflection Cracking

This distress occurs only on asphalt-surfaced pavements on a PCC slab. It does not include reflection cracks from any other type of base; these cracks are caused mainly by thermal- or moisture-induced movement of the PCC slab beneath the AC surface. This distress is not load-related; however, traffic loading may cause a breakdown of the AC surface near the crack. If the pavement is fragmented along a crack, the crack is said to be spalled. Knowledge of slab dimension beneath the AC surface will help to identify this distress.

Severity	Description
Low	One of the following conditions exists: nonfilled crack width is less than 3/8 in (10 mm), or filled crack of any width (filler in satisfactory condition).
Medium	One of the following conditions exists: nonfilled crack width is greater than or equal to 3/8 in (10 mm) and less than 3 in (75 mm); nonfilled crack width is less than or equal to 3 in (75 mm) surrounded by light secondary cracking; or, filled crack of any width surrounded by light secondary cracking.
High	One of the following conditions exists: any crack (filled or nonfilled) surrounded by medium- or high-severity secondary cracking; nonfilled cracks greater than 3 in (75 mm); or, a crack of any width where approximately 4 in (100 mm) of pavement around the crack are severely raveled or broken.