RAVELING (Overall Condition)

Note: Sand seals are not to be marked as having any raveling.

Light: Aggregate loss within the pavement lanes is not great; small amounts of pitting may be detected; aggregate or binder has started to wear away.

Moderate: Some pitting or stripping evident; random stripping with small areas (less than one square foot) or strips of aggregate broken away.

Severe: Stripping very evident; aggregate accumulations may be a problem; large sections (greater than one square foot) of stripping with aggregate layer broken away.

Description: Raveling (which for our purposes also includes weathering) is the wearing away of the pavement surface caused by the dislodging of aggregate particles or loss of asphalt binder (weathering). Weathering is more common on BST or Slurry surfaces than on plant mix surfaces. Raveling indicates either a hardening or poor application of asphalt binder. Weathering is simply a hardening of the asphalt binder.

Sand seals pose a unique problem as far as raveling is concerned. Sand seals can look moderately or severely raveled within 3 months after application. Yet, the binder that was put down to seal the cracks is intact and will probably hold up for 2 to 3 years. Therefore, sand seals are not to be considered when looking at raveling.

Raveling is usually found in the wheel path area and is seen as longitudinal streaks.

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