A study on factors that contribute to pavement deterioration on the Mampong Arterial (Suame Roundabout – Pankrono Road)
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Date
MAY, 2016
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Abstract
Pavement deterioration is an outcome of structural fatigue and functional distresses. In Ghana, huge investments are made in the construction and maintenance of roads, as in 2008 alone, Government’s expenditure on major rehabilitation and construction was US$ 229 million while US$ 317 million was spent on road maintenance. The interactions of traffic, climate, materials, and time and roadway geometric features account for this distressing phenomenon. Recognizing defects and understanding their causes is essential in providing not only long-term performance but also in the choice of cost-effective maintenance management systems. The goal of this research was to investigate the factors that causes pavement distresses on the Mampong arterial (from Suame Roundabout - Pankrono Estate Junction) by considering traffic and other road related features. Having visually assessed and measured the surface defects on delineated road sections, a Roughometer was also employed to objectively measure the International Roughness Indices for the same sections. Traffic surveys were undertaken to profile the flow pattern and to determine the Equivalent Standard Axle Load (ESAL). Following the correlation analysis, it was found that vehicular traffic and especially ESAL had strong relationships with pavement surface distresses such as depressions, cracks, potholes and rutting. This was demonstrated by high Pearson Correlation coefficients estimated for the various relationships. The overloading of the heavy vehicles and its deteriorating impact on pavements should trigger appropriate responses from policy makers and Road Authorities to ensure strict compliance of axle load limits on our road networks to ensure their sustainability.
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A thesis submitted to The Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Road and Transportation Engineering).