Redefining the failure mode for thun and ultra-thin whitetopping with a 1.8-x 1.8-m joint spacing

Bonded whitetopping consists of a thin concrete overlay of a distressed asphalt pavement. The existing design procedures for bonded whitetopping were developed based on the assumption that the failure mode is a function of the overlay thickness. It has been traditionally assumed in design that for thin whitetopping (TWT) (overlay thickness greater than 4 but less than 6 in) the failure mode is transverse cracking and for ultra-thin whitetopping (UTW) (overlay thickness between 2 to 4 in) the failure mode is corner cracking.