Tuesday 8 July 2014
A pothole is
a type of failure in an asphalt pavement, caused by the presence of water in the
underlying soil structure and the presence of traffic passing over the affected
area. Introduction of water to the underlying soil structure first weakens the
supporting soil. Traffic then fatigues and breaks the poorly supported asphalt
surface in the affected area. Continued traffic action ejects both asphalt and
the underlying soil material to create a hole in the pavement. Potholes form
progressively, first from fatigue of the road surface, which can lead to a
precursor failure pattern known as crocodile cracking. Finally, chunks of
pavement between the fatigue cracks gradually work loose, and may eventually be
plucked or forced out of the surface by continued wheel loads to create a
pothole. Source
