Preface

Title: Preface
Author(s): L. Francken
Paper category : conference
Book title: Fifth International RILEM Conference on Reflective Cracking in Pavements
Editor(s): C. Petit, I.L. Al-Qadi and A. Millien
Print-ISBN: 2-912143-47-0
e-ISBN: 2912143764
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2004
Pages: XVII - XIX
Total Pages: 1
Nb references: 1
Language: English

Abstract: The preservation of the patrimony that represents the road network is a challenge for our modern societies. Developing efficient construction methods able to guarantee long life structures without spoiling natural resources and destroying the environment is more than ever, a major requirement nowadays.

Cracking is certainly to be considered as one of the main causes of pavement deterioration and a great part of the enormous funds spent each year on repairing and maintaining cracked pavements are astronomical. There is no doubt that such arguments justify any effort that is put on promoting research and development in the field of pavement cracking.

The interest on this form of damage is not quite new: since many decades international events have covered this topic and the relevant literature is inexhaustible. In spite of this it became evident in the 80th that the technical knowledge on repair and maintenance methods was not able to overcome many situations where some particular forms of the cracking phenomenon were concerned.
The rehabilitation of cracked pavements with bituminous overlays has been a solution adopted worldwide. However, unless high-performance designs and materials are used, cracks propagate in most cases through the new overlay during the first few years of service. This mode of distress, traditionally referred to as "reflective cracking", is a major concern to highway agencies.

This situation was at the origin of the RILEM Technical Committee 97-GCR “Application of geotextiles to crack prevention in roads” under the chairmanship of Professor Jean-Marie Rigo of the University of Liège.
The first RILEM conference RC89 on reflective cracking organized in 1989 by this Committee conference was intended as a single event with the purpose to gather all people confronted with the specific problem of reflective cracking in a large forum of discussion surrounded by a technical exhibition.

Online publication: 2004-04-15
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00