Development of an asphalt pavement distress evaluation method for freeways in China

Reasonable evaluation of the asphalt pavement distress condition is a very important part of the pavement management system. The objective of this research is to develop an effective method to evaluate asphalt pavement distress conditions in China. Three single evaluation indexes were proposed, namely the Transverse Cracking Evaluation Index (TCEI), Pavement Patching Condition Index (PPCI), and Pavement Surface Distress Condition Index (PSCI), to assess the severity of asphalt pavement distresses. The pavement distress condition index (PDCI) was then developed as a general evaluation index by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The feasibility of this evaluation method was validated using the field distress data collected from Ning Hang freeway and Fen Guan freeway in Jiangsu Province, China. The results showed that the PDCI could reasonably represent the distress condition in asphalt pavements. The index value correlates well with the actual condition of the pavement. Therefore, a scientific and rational method has been established to evaluate Chinese asphalt pavement distress conditions.