Causes of Road Cracks And Corresponding Maintenance Measures

Causes of Road Cracks and Corresponding Maintenance Measures

Asphalt road cracks can be categorized into two main types based on their causes:

1. Structural damage cracks caused by traffic loads

2. Temperature-related cracks in asphalt surfaces, including non-load cracks from low-temperature shrinkage and thermal fatigue.

International studies show that reflection cracks in semi-rigid base asphalt pavements primarily correspond to non-load types induced by temperature changes, though sometimes result from combined thermal and load effects.

Maintenance strategies differ significantly:

Ⅰ. Structural Damage Cracks (Type 1)

Nature: Destructive "surface-level" failure

Cause: Structural failure of asphalt concrete pavement

Solution: Requires complete excavation and patching repair similar to pothole restoration

Ⅱ. Reflective Cracks (Type 2)

Initial stage: Linear "line-level" damage

Critical maintenance: Immediate crack sealing using specialized materials

Benefits:

• Creates elastic expansion joint effect

• Prevents water/snow infiltration

• Blocks debris penetration

• Delays pavement deterioration

• Achieves preventive maintenance

Timely intervention is crucial. Unsealed cracks allow moisture intrusion that accelerates damage progression from linear cracks to destructive surface failures, ultimately requiring costly excavation repairs and compromising highway safety. Proactive sealing reduces long-term maintenance costs by 60-70% compared to reactive repairs.