The developed guidelines were the outcome of the North American Consortium conducted by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the National Research Council of Canada. Thirteen states, led by VDOT/VTRC, sponsored the pool-fund research project TPF-5(045) along with 13 Canadian transportation agencies and industry. New test methods, which make use of the existing SHRP devices, were developed.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in collaboration with Virginia Transportation Research Council, proposes to validate and implement the recently developed Performance-Based Guidelines for the Selection of Hot-Poured Crack Sealants. The test variations within laboratories were successfully verified. The developed tests and new guidelines will be submitted to AASHTO for consideration as new specifications

Round robin tests at five to seven various laboratories will be conducted. As an outcome of the TPF-5(045)study preliminary threshold(s)for each test were established based on extensive laboratory testing and limited field data. Therefore, a comprehensive field study is urgently needed to validate and to fine-tune the threshold values. Eight test sections in various climatic regions (dry-freeze, dry-nonfreeze, wet-freeze and wet-nonfreeze) will be included in the study. Representative crack sealants will be installed in these field sections and monitored for three years. At least five field surveys will be conducted. The field surveys will include sealant inspection and data and sample collection. Collected samples will be used to validate the laboratory tests and the proposed parameter threshold values. The following tasks are proposed in this study: Task I : Laboratory Validation Conduct round robin testing to establish test precision and bias for the recently developed six tests. Develop training program that includes detailed testing procedures. Task II: Field Validation Construct eight test sections in the four environmental regions (Wet-Freeze, Wet-Nonfreeze, Dry-Freeze, Dry-Nonfreeze). Install two sealant types at each test section. Task III: Monitoring Test Section for Four Years Conduct field inspection of crack sealant five times during the project duration. Collect sealant samples annually from the test sections to measure their rheological properties and identify any changes. Monitor crack movement and temperature variation to provide insight into the selection of the current temperature shift used in the proposed guidelines. Task IV: Threshold Value Fine-Tuning Use field performance to fine-tune the testing parameter thresholds in the proposed guidelines. Task V: Quantify the Cost Effectiveness of Utilizing Crack Sealants Measure pavement condition annually, in accordance with SHRP Distress Manual, to examine the cost effectiveness of crack sealant.

Suggested contribution is $25,000/yr for each of 4 years - total of $100,000.