- Iowa Airport Pavement Management System /
- Pavement Inspection /
- PCC Distress Measurement /
- Corner Break
Corner Break
A corner break is a crack that intersects the joints at a distance less than or equal to one half of the slab length on both sides, measured from the corner of the slab. For example, a slab with dimensions of 25 by 25 ft (7.5 by 7.5 m) that has a crack intersecting the joint 5 ft (1.5 m) from the corner on one side and 17 ft (5 m) on the other side is not considered a corner break; it is a diagonal crack. However, a crack that intersects 7 ft (2 m) on one side and 10 ft (3 m) on the other is considered a corner break. A corner break differs from a corner spall in that the crack extends vertically through the entire slab thickness, while a corner spall intersects the joint at an angle. Load repetition combined with loss of support and curling stresses usually causes corner breaks.
Severity | Distress Example | Description |
---|---|---|
Low | Crack has little or minor spalling (no FOD potential). If non-filled, it has a mean width less than approximately 1/8 in (3 mm). A filled crack can be of any width, but the filler material must be in satisfactory condition. The area between the corner break and the joints is not cracked. | |
Medium | One of the following conditions exists: (1) filled or non-filled crack is moderately spalled (some FOD potential); (2) a non-filled crack has a mean width between 1/8 in to 1 in (3 and 25 mm); (3) a filled crack is not spalled, or is only lightly spalled, but the filler is in unsatisfactory condition; (4) the area between the corner break and the joints has only one low-severity crack dividing the corner into two pieces. | |
High | One of the following conditions exists: (1) filled or non-filled crack is severely spalled, causing definite FOD potential; (2) a non-filled crack has a mean width greater than approximately 1 in (25 mm), creating a tire damage potential; (3) the area between the corner break and the joints is divided into three or more pieces by two or more cracks, one of which is at least high severity. |