Why do longitudinal cracks develop on concrete pavement?

Concrete is a brittle material with a relatively low tensile strength. When the tensile stress induced by either traffic or environmental loading or both exceeds the tensile strength of concrete, a concrete slab would crack in transverse, longitudinal or corner cracking types.

What are transverse cracks?

A transverse crack, as its name suggests, is a crack that extends along the cross-section of a material or object, usually perpendicular to its centerline. It is typically the result of axial loading from external forces or shrinkage due to temperature changes.

What is block cracking?

Block cracks are interconnected cracks that divide the pavement into approximately rectangular pieces. The blocks may range in size from approximately 1 by 1 ft (0.3 by 0.3 m) to 10 by 10 ft (3 by 3 m). Block cracking normally occurs over a large portion of pavement area. …

What are the possible causes for longitudinal cracking?

Longitudinal cracks are caused by a poorly constructed paving lane joint, temperature cycling, reflective cracking in a base layer, or volume changes in subgrade.

Under what condition is a pavement most likely to experience transverse cracking thermal cracking )?

Transverse cracking is most noticeable on concrete pavement that gets a high level of daily traffic. Cool temperatures cause the thermal cracking in asphalt pavement and the constant weight and pressure from overuse and moving vehicles worsens it.

What causes edge cracking?

Edge cracking is the formation of crescent-shaped cracks near the edge of a road. It is caused by lack of support of the road edge, sometimes due to poorly drained or weak shoulders. If left untreated, additional cracks will form until it resembles fatigue cracking.

Is it normal to have hairline cracks in concrete?

Hairline cracks in a concrete slab are rarely a cause for concern. They can be controlled, but not eliminated. A crack in a slab of 1/8 inch or less is typically a normal shrinkage crack and not a cause for concern.