Life-Extending Benefit of Chip Sealing for Pavement Preservation

Chip seals are effective pavement preservation treatments that are usually applied to address non-fatigue cracking, weathering, and raveling, to seal the surface, to delay oxidation, and, finally, to improve skid resistance. This study used field performance data of test sections from the Pavement Preservation Group Study being conducted by the National Center for Asphalt Technology and the Minnesota DOT’s Road Research Facility. Data from test sections located in a low-traffic-volume road with a hot, wet, no-freeze climate collected over a period of 7 years were used to evaluate the effect of several chip seal treatments. Treatments range from single layer to multilayer systems, and include different construction techniques such as rejuvenating scrub seal and fiber membrane. Also, a section was crack sealed before the application of a single layer chip seal to assess the benefits. A semi-parametric survival analysis was performed to determine the differences in median time to failure (MTTF) for different chip seal sections versus a controlled section—representing a “do-nothing” scenario. The results showed that the MTTF for a single layer chip seal ranges from 6.8 to 9.1 years depending on the pretreatment condition. Crack sealing before chip seal could extend the MTTF by an additional 1–3 years, depending on initial conditions. Double and triple layer chip seals extend the MTTF beyond 10 years. Finally, the scrub seal provided the highest benefits, with survival rates close to 100% after 10 years of performance.

Evaluation of cost-effective thin modified binder seals on Nano-Modified Emulsion (NME) stabilised base layers using Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT)

Emulsion stabilisation of base layers surfaced with chip seals often proves problematic with chips punching into the base and early distress. This can be aggravated by the use of modified binders that restricts the evaporation of moisture from pavement layers. The introduction of New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsion (NME) stabilisation has the advantage that water is chemically repelled from the stabilised layer resulting in an accelerated development of strength. A need was identified to evaluate the early life performance of selected chip seals, together with identified binders. Three different chip seal surfacings with unconventional modified binders were constructed and evaluated using Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) with the MMLS3. The objectives of the experimental design and testing were to evaluate binder performance, early loss of chips before chip orientation at low temperatures, punching of the chips into the NME stabilised base, deformation characteristics of a Cape seal and the effect of the use of a standard normal modified binder. This paper contains details of the NME base layer, the binder and seal selection and the test results. It is shown that a cost-effective thin chip seal in combination with a suitable binder can be used on a NME stabilised base with confidence.

Performance of Chip Seal Treatments in Two Different Climatic Regions

Over time, new pavements deteriorate because of the effect of traffic loads and the environment. Pavement preservation treatments, such as chip seals, are a cost-effective alternative for extending the service life of the pavement without incurring in costly rehabilitation or reconstruction activities. Chip seals are preservation treatments that can help protect the pavement structure, reduce the rate of pavement deterioration, improve skid resistance, and address minor surface problems. As part of the National Center for Asphalt Technology and Minnesota Road Research Facility Pavement Preservation Study, chip seal test sections were placed on low-traffic-volume roads in Alabama and Minnesota. The two locations were selected to represent different climate conditions. Lee County Road 159 in Auburn, Alabama, is subjected to warm, wet, no-freeze climate, while County State Aid Highway (CSAH 8) is located in a cold, wet, freeze area in Pease, Minnesota. Treatments have been in service for approximately 6 years in the southern sections, and 2 years in the northern sections. During this time, cracking, roughness, rutting, and macrotexture data were collected periodically to evaluate pavement performance. The results determined that cracking is a predominant form of distress for these treatments. While the treatments are not expected to address rutting or roughness, the results indicated little variation in the case of the southern treatments, and an increasing trend in international roughness index in the northern sections, likely related to the appearance of thermal cracking. Macrotexture data may be used to assess the functional life of the treatments.