Sampietrini Stone Pavements: Distress Analysis Using Pavement Condition Index Method

Zoccali, Pablo; Loprencipe, Giuseppe; Galoni, Andrea · 2017 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3390/app7070669

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This study addresses the lack of specific evaluation criteria for Sampietrini stone pavements, a historical road surface common in Rome and other Italian cities. Sampietrini pavements consist of irregular, hand-assembled basalt blocks that differ significantly from standard flexible or rigid pavements, making conventional maintenance assessment methods unsuitable. The absence of tailored evaluation metrics has led to inadequate maintenance, resulting in high vibration and noise levels. The authors propose a modified Pavement Condition Index (PCI) method specifically adapted for Sampietrini distresses, alongside International Roughness Index (IRI) and ride comfort analyses, to support the development of a dedicated Pavement Management System (PMS). The methodology involved analyzing 14 road sections in Rome, each 80 meters long and 3 meters wide. The researchers developed a specific distress catalogue for Sampietrini pavements, modifying severity thresholds from existing block pavement guidelines to account for the unique geometry of the stones. Distress types included damaged blocks, depressions, edge restraint issues, and joint sand loss. For each section, PCI values were calculated based on visual inspections. Simultaneously, road profiles were measured using a contact profilometer to calculate IRI values via a MATLAB implementation of the ASTM E1926 standard. To assess user comfort, the study simulated vehicle dynamics using an eight-degree-of-freedom full car model to determine frequency-weighted vertical acceleration ($a_{wz}$) at speeds between 10 and 50 km/h, comparing results against ISO 2631 comfort thresholds. The results demonstrated a strong correlation ($R^2 = 0.82$) between the proposed PCI and IRI values. Notably, even new or reconstructed Sampietrini pavements in good condition (PCI > 86) exhibited IRI values between 6 and 8 m/km, levels that would typically indicate damaged pavement in asphalt or concrete contexts. This inherent roughness significantly impacted ride comfort. Simulations revealed that at 50 km/h, pavements in good condition resulted in "fairly uncomfortable" ride quality, while those in poor condition (PCI 41–55) were "very uncomfortable." Correlations between IRI/PCI and $a_{wz}$ were weaker ($R^2$ ranging from 0.44 to 0.70), varying with speed. Based on these findings, the authors proposed speed-related threshold values for both PCI and IRI to guide maintenance decisions. The significance of this work lies in providing a validated, specialized assessment framework for historical stone pavements. By establishing that Sampietrini surfaces inherently possess higher roughness than modern pavements, the study justifies the need for distinct maintenance thresholds. The proposed method allows pavement managers to integrate Sampietrini evaluation into broader PMS frameworks, ensuring appropriate maintenance strategies that account for the material's unique characteristics and the comfort limits of urban traffic speeds. The authors recommend further in situ measurements to refine the correlations between distress indices and ride comfort.

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• road surface friction