Investigating Causes of Flexible Pavement Failure: A Case Study of the Bako to Nekemte Road, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Most of the roads constructed in Ethiopia fail prematurely before serving the design life due to various causes arising from many factors. One of the roads that failed before reaching its design lifetime is the Bako to Nekemte Trunk Road. This road was constructed and opened to traffic in 2013. The design pavement life was estimated at 20 years. However; pavement failures have manifested since 2014 after it was opened for traffic. The main objective of this research was to investigate the cause for the failure of flexible pavement on the Bako to Nekemte road segment. To achieve this objective, the study was followed by the experimental research type and purposive sampling method. Also, field observation and pavement condition survey methods for data collection were used. The asphalt, base course, subgrade, and sub-base layer material sampled from the road segment are the material used for this study. Different pavement failures such as rutting, pothole, alligator cracking, raveling, edge cracking, depression, and corrugation were observed along the road section. For estimations of pavement condition index, the road was divided into five different sections based on distress densities, which were measured during the pavement condition survey. From those five sections, four sections were selected for the determination of the Pavement Condition Index (PCI). Using systematic random sampling 159 sample units were evaluated for Pavement Condition Rating (PCR) and the result shows 1.89% excellent, 8.18% very good, 20.13% good, 31.45% fair, 18.87 % poor, 18.24% very poor, and 1.26% failed. Based on PCI value, samples of pavement layer were taken from failed surface condition (1), poor surface condition (2), and none distressed area (1) for comparison purposes. Different quality tests like Atterberg limit, wash gradation, soil classification, compaction test, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Los Angeles Abrasion (LAA), Flakiness Index ( FI), Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV), Ten percent fines value (TFV), bitumen content, and gradation of asphalt were carried out. The results of these tests were compared with ERA specifications to identify the probable cause of pavement failure. The study found that the cause for failure of flexible pavement in the case of Bako to Nekemte was: insufficient and absence of side drainage structure, traffic loading, poor gradation of base course and sub-base material, and poor quality of subgrade soil. The study also recommended that the road urgently needed routine maintenance as a treatment option to reduce further deterioration and extend its service time.

Review of Subgrade Soil Stabilised with Natural and Synthetic Fibres

“…Furthermore, construction on weak or soft soil affects pavement performance and leads to pavement instability (Medina-Martinez et al, 2022;Omowumi, 2018;Peng & Dingyu, 2022;Tamiru & Ponnurangam, 2018;Tarefder et al, 2008). Therefore, road must be maintained to ensure safety and durability requirements of pavement are met (Degu et al, 2022;Peng & Dingyu, 2022;Tarefder et al, 2008). Some of the causes of flexible pavement failure include inadequate drainage, lack of acceptable pavement design, and lack of road maintenance by the responsible entity.…”

“…Some of the causes of flexible pavement failure include inadequate drainage, lack of acceptable pavement design, and lack of road maintenance by the responsible entity. Furthermore, excessive subgrade water levels and poor subgrade soil also contribute to subgrade failure (Adlinge & Gupta, 2009;Degu et al, 2022;Peng & Dingyu, 2022;Tamiru & Ponnurangam, 2018;Tarefder et al, 2008). Soils are generally classified into four basic types: gravel, sand, clay, and silt (M. Mishra et al, 2016).…”

“…The strength and stiffness properties of the subgrade can be expressed as California Bearing Ratio (CBR), R-value or resilient modulus (Tarefder et al, 2008). If the mechanical properties of the subsoils are lower than required, a soil stabilisation method may be an option to improve the soil properties of the weak subsoil (Afrin, 2017;Degu et al, 2022). Soil stabilisation can be defined as the modification of one or more soil properties to improve the engineering properties and performance of a soil (Afrin, 2017;Medina-Martinez et al, 2022;Rao & Naidu, 2019).…”

“…Mishra et al, 2016;Rao & Naidu, 2019). Soil stabilisation can be achieved in a variety of ways, including soil preloading, application of high energy impacts, use of sand drains and sand filters, prefabricated wick drains, and chemical additives (Afrin, 2017;Ahmed & Patil, 2015;Archibong et al, 2020;Baghini et al, 2013;Degu et al, 2022;Gbenga Matthew & Shola Paul, 2018;Rao & Naidu, 2019). The most common method for improving the physical and mechanical properties of soils is stabilisation with binders such as cement and lime (Jawad et al, 2014;Medina-Martinez et al, 2022;Nadhirah & Zuhayr, 2018;Verma et al, 2021).…”

A flexible bearing plate based on steel plate and rubber mat

“…The use of fly ash from the power plants to improve soft cohesive soils for road subgrade may be an environment-friendly alternative to its disposal in the ponds. Degu et al (2022)found that the cause for failure of flexible pavement in the case of Bako to Nekemte was: insufficient and absence of side drainage structure, traffic loading, poor gradation of base course and sub-base material, and poor quality of subgrade soil. A.…”