The best way to ensure long pavement life is to preserve pavements through maintenance and address distresses before they become pavement failures. A new publication from the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), Lanham, Maryland, tiled “Thinlays for Pavement Preservation,” provides guidance on the use of thin asphalt overlays as part of a successful pavement preservation program.
Thinlays, a suite of thin-asphalt overlays designed specifically for pavement preservation, provide road owners with a cost-effective way to preserve pavement life, correct minor distresses and improve the performance and life of a road, according to NAPA.
“Thinlays for Pavement Preservation” provides guidance on the proper use of thinlays, including how they fit within pavement management systems, when and how they should be used based on existing pavement condition, how thinlay mixes should be developed and specified and best practices for thinlay construction.
The guide also helps users compare the cost and performance of common pavement preservation techniques and includes case studies highlighting the successful use of thinlays under a variety of conditions.
“Pavement managers are looking to get the best possible value and performance for their roadway network within their budgets,” Audrey Copeland, NAPA vice president for engineering, research and technology, says. “When used appropriately, Thinlays meet those needs with lower life-cycle costs, by improving ride quality and armoring the pavement surface against damage from loading and the elements.”
Written by Michael A. Heitzman and E. Ray Brown at the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and John Hickey at the Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon, Salem, Oregon, “Thinlays for Pavement Preservation” was produced with support from NAPA’s cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration.
“Traditional asphalt overlays and inlays are well known for their ability to restore ride quality and serviceability,” Copeland says. “Now, with thinlays as part of a pavement preservation program, agencies gain those same benefits with a thinner pavement layer, which means even lower life-cycle costs over the pavement life.”
“Thinlays for Pavement Preservation” is available as a PDF download through the NAPA online store, store.asphaltpavement.org.