Weathering and Raveling

Weathering and raveling are the wearing away of the pavement surface due to a loss of asphalt or tar binder and dislodged aggregate particles. These distresses indicate that either the asphalt binder has hardened appreciably or that a poor-quality mixture is present. In addition, raveling may be caused by certain types of traffic (e.g., tracked vehicles).

Severity Description
Low Aggregate or binder has started to wear away. In some areas, the surface is starting to pit. In the case of oil spill damage, the oil stain can be seen, but the surface is hard and cannot be penetrated with a coin.
Medium Aggregate or binder has worn away. The surface texture is moderately rough and pitted. In the case of oil spill damage, the surface is soft and can be penetrated with a coin.
High Aggregate or binder has been worn away considerably. The surface texture is very rough and severely pitted. The pitted areas are less than 4 in (10 mm) in diameter and less than 1/2 in (13 mm) deep; larger pitted areas are counted as potholes. In the case of oil spill damage, the asphalt binder has lost its binding effect and the aggregate has become loose.