Materials Approach to Improving Asphalt Pavement Longitudinal Joint Performance

Abstract

Many states are looking for methods to improve longitudinal joint performance of their asphalt pavements, since these joints often fail before the rest of the surface. With their inherently lower density, longitudinal joints fail by cracking, raveling, and potholing because of the intrusion of air and water. Because of their longitudinal joint issues, and after trying several less-than-successful traditional solutions, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) developed a concept to seal the longitudinal joint region, but from the bottom up. Test sections were constructed in 2001 through 2003 to determine how a newly developed material, called longitudinal joint sealant (LJS), would improve joint performance. LJS is a highly polymer-modified asphalt cement with fillers and is placed at the location of a longitudinal joint before paving. As mix is paved over it, the LJS melts and migrates up into voids in the low-density mix, making the mix impermeable to moisture while sealing the longitudinal joint itself. The IDOT test pavements were evaluated after 12 years and found to have longitudinal joints that exhibited significantly better performance than the control joint sections and were in similar or better condition than the rest of the pavement. Laboratory testing of cores showed decreased permeability and increased crack resistance of mix near joints with LJS as compared with similar mix without LJS. The life extension of the joint area is approximately 3–5 years, and the benefit is calculated to be three to five times the initial cost.