Cracking that propagates up through a new overlay from existing cracks or joints below, driven by horizontal movement as temperatures swing and by vertical shear as wheels cross the old crack. Overlays on jointed concrete are the classic case: every slab joint shows up through the asphalt within a few years. Thicker overlays, interlayers, paving fabric and saw-and-seal joints slow it but rarely stop it.
Reflective cracking's coming through right over every concrete joint, should've sawed and sealed when we paved.
Also heard as
- reflection cracking
Related terms
Thermal cracking
Transverse cracks across the lane caused by the pavement shrinking and snapping in very cold weather.
Fatigue cracking
Interconnected cracks in the wheel paths caused by repeated bending under traffic, known as alligator cracking.
Milling
Grinding off the top of an existing pavement with a rotating cutter drum before repaving.