New tools developed from the Second Strategic Highway Research Program or SHRP2 – a partnership between the Federal Highway Administration, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the Transportation Research Board – are helping state departments of transportation and other agencies detect the location and severity of asphalt “delamination” beneath roadway surfaces.

“Delamination” refers to a condition that occurs between asphalt layers underneath a roadway that can lead to surface pavement cracking and tearing – a problem due to asphalt layer “de-bonding” or stripping, which engineers can’t see, especially in the early stages.

A new solution to this problem developed through the SHRP2 program is called Advanced Methods to Identify Pavement Delamination, commonly referred to as R06D. It features two non-destructive testing technology systems that can spot problems in the asphalt pavement beneath the surface in a safer, faster, and less expensive way than previously done.

Six state DOTs tested the nondestructive testing technologies included in R06D through the SHRP2 Implementation Assistance Program, which provided financial assistance and technical guidance from subject matter experts.

More information is available at: http://shrp2.transportation.org/Pages/R06D.aspx