Streets - City of Bartlesville

2.3 LOAD ASSOCIATED DISTRESS ANALYSIS
Closer examination of the surface defects as they relate to the overall pavement condition support the
findings of the pavement condition survey. Load associated distresses include traffic and truck loading.
Generally, load associated distresses affect the overall condition score more than non-load associated
distresses such as materials and the environment. Figure 9 plots the relationship of the load associated
distresses against pavement condition. The plot illustrates that at higher PCI scores, the non-load
associated distresses have a higher concentration of deducts over load associated distresses. As the
PCI score drops, the load associated distresses typically affect the PCI score to a higher degree. This is
indicative of a network that has good pavement performance for the first half of a street’s life and then
suffers from progressive structural or base failures over time. High PCI score rehabilitation selection (PCI
scores above 60) should focus on pavement preservation activities such as microsurfacing and thin
overlays, possibly with some localized pavement repairs and crack sealing.
Figure 9 – Structural Adequacy of the Roadway Network
The sum of the Load-Associated Distress deducts (LAD for short) is also used to qualify the appropriate
rehabilitation strategy selection in addition to the overall pavement condition score. For example, a street
that has a good PCI score (that is between 60 and 70) and is displaying relatively low load associated
distress deducts would be a suitable candidate for a surface treatment in place of a thin overlay in that the
PCI score is more influenced by materials issues such as transverse cracking or raveling.
IMS Infrastructure Management Services Bartlesville 2012 Report Rev1 page 10