Performance of the crack and seat method for inhibiting reflection cracking

Abstract Trials of the crack and seat method of maintaining jointed concrete roads and flexible composite roads have been undertaken at four sites in the UK. The technique requires that fine, full-depth vertical cracks are induced in the exposed concrete which is then firmly seated into the foundation using a heavy roller before overlaying with bituminous material. The induced cracks should enable the expansion and contraction of the cement-bound layer to be distributed more evenly which should minimise the occurrence of transverse reflection cracks in the surface of the bituminous surfacing.