Mitigation of Tenting of Transverse Cracks and Joints in Asphalt Pavement Status: CompleteReport Date: 06/23/2026 Summary: Tenting occurs when ice expands in the subsurface materials of a road, causing the asphalt at the edges of a crack to move upward. This movement creates a tent-like peak in the pavement, which reduces ride quality, increases safety risks and accelerates pavement deterioration and pothole formation. While frost heave is largely understood, more information is needed about the causes of tenting and strategies to mitigate it on distressed roads. To assist state and local engineers with road designs and maintenance strategies, investigators developed a method to classify base materials by frost susceptibility and created decision trees for selecting the best pavement treatment option for deteriorating roads. Final Deliverables: Mitigation of Tenting of Transverse Cracks and Joints in Asphalt Pavement (Report #2026-16) Mitigating Surface Tenting to Improve Road Quality (Research Summary) Related Materials: Mitigating Surface Tenting to Improve Road Quality (Blog Post) Mitigating Tenting of Transverse Cracks and Joints in Asphalt Pavement (Blog Post) Related Research: Investigation of Winter Pavement Tenting
