Delamination in asphalt pavements: characterization and classification for maintenance management

Abstract

Road transport is the main logistics system in Brazil, making it essential that pavements maintain good structural and functional conditions. Delamination, a defect characterized by the separation between asphalt layers resulting in a flat-bottomed cavity, is not covered by Brazilian pavement defect classification standards (DNIT 005/2003), making systematic identification difficult for non-specialist practitioners. This paper investigates delamination in flexible and semi-rigid pavements by reviewing the national and international literature on its causes, identification methods, and maintenance and rehabilitation techniques. As a practical contribution, the defect was incorporated into LabPavi, a pavement management software developed at Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa: 24 images were registered and classified by severity level (low, medium, and high), and a specific decision tree was developed indicating appropriate maintenance and rehabilitation activities for each level. Image distribution showed a predominance of low severity (46%) and high severity (33%) cases, with fewer medium severity occurrences (21%). The decision tree was grounded in international standards and references, filling a gap in the Brazilian pavement literature.