Solution to Interfacial Delamination of NMDOT's Asphalt Pavements

The main problem with a delaminated layered pavement is that it will create a poor distribution of mechanical loads induced by repeated traffic, which will result in early failure. Therefore, there is a need to study the factors that causes such a delamination in our pavements and for finding a solution to prevent it. The objective of this study is to define the mechanisms of delamination and find a solution to delamination issues of New Mexico pavements. To find a solution, the project was initiated to identify and evaluate the following factors: Debonding of the tack coat from the top or bottom layer: due to poor interlayer bond caused by dissimilar material systems, improper choice of tack coat (type), lack of tack or application rate, inadequate or excessive breaking and curing of tack coat. It is worthwhile to mention here that the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) does not have acceptance or performance tests for tack coats. Failure within the layer: traffic- and pavement design related causes (e.g., slippage between layers due to heavy traffic, unstable or poor mix, excessive cyclic stresses at the interface of two layers). Damage and fracture within the interface or tack coat layer: caused by seepage of water through the surface layer, improper compaction, aging, and mismatch in thermal expansion and contraction between two layers and/or interface tack layer due to seasonal change in temperature.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $480,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  R922030

  C06372

• Sponsor Organizations:

  New Mexico Department of Transportation

  1120 Cerrillos Road
  P.O. Box 1149
  Sante Fe, NM  United States  87504-1149

  University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Albuquerque, NM  United States  87131-0001
• Project Managers:

  Moya, Abigail

• Principal Investigators:

  Tarefder, Rafiqul

• Start Date: 20220701
• Expected Completion Date: 20260706
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Debonding; Delamination; Pavement layers; Tack coats
• Geographic Terms: New Mexico
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01962489
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: New Mexico Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: R922030, C06372
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 4 2025 6:13PM