A comprehensive review on reflective cracking in asphalt pavements: formation, evaluation, and treatment

Reflective cracking in asphalt pavements significantly compromises structural durability and escalates maintenance costs. This review critically addresses the damage mechanisms, assessment methodologies, and mitigation strategies for reflective cracking. Driven by differential movement between underlying structural layers, these cracks primarily manifest as mixed-mode I-II fractures. Consequently, researchers have developed multi-scale evaluation approaches encompassing numerical simulations, tensile tests, coupled tests, full-scale tests, etc. Among these, tensile tests and load plate tests represent the most prevalent and efficient methods. Concurrently, material innovations and structural optimizations targeting surface, base, and interlayer courses – along with stage-specific treatment strategies – have been proposed. Interlayer materials such as geosynthetics and stress-absorbing layers, require careful consideration of installation positioning, existing pavement structures, and cost-effectiveness. In the future, the treatment of reflective cracking should consider material properties, long-term performance, construction techniques, and lifecycle costs. Evaluation methods may involve standard equivalent coupled tests, combined with technologies such as digital imaging.