An investigation of distresses found in concrete and asphalt pavements for Georgia forensic guide recommendation

This thesis presents the recommendation for whether the Georgia Department ofTransportation (GDOT) should adopt the National Cooperative Highway Research Program(NCHRP) Report 747 (Guide for Conducting Forensic Investigations of Highway Pavements) asa guide to conduct forensic investigations. The evaluation of three pavement types using theNCHRP 747 guide is completed: Jointed Plain Concrete (JPC), Continuously ReinforcedConcrete (CRC), and Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). Each type consisted of an evaluation of two sitesin good/fair and poor conditions. Non-destructive testing was performed using a GroundPenetration Radar (GPR) and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD). Destructive and on-site fieldtesting were performed consistently with the recommendations of the guide. Laboratory testswere conducted to determine material properties and combined with traffic data to formconclusions about the causes of pavement distress. It is recommended from this study that the GDOT adopts the NCHRP Report 747 for use in Georgia.