What engineering property is primarily addressed by milling and resurfacing rehabilitation?

Milling and resurfacing primarily addresses the functional performance and surface characteristics of a pavement. Milling, which involves removing a portion of the existing pavement surface using a milling machine, corrects surface defects such as roughness, rutting, and distortion. This process creates a uniform base for the new asphalt overlay, ensuring a smooth and even riding surface. Resurfacing, which involves placing a new layer of asphalt concrete on top of the milled surface, restores skid resistance, improves ride quality, and seals the pavement surface to prevent water infiltration. While milling and resurfacing can provide a slight increase in structural capacity, its primary focus is on improving the pavement's functional properties. The process doesn't typically address underlying structural deficiencies, such as inadequate base thickness or subgrade issues. If the pavement has significant structural problems, milling and resurfacing alone may not be sufficient and a more comprehensive rehabilitation strategy, such as an overlay with structural improvements or full-depth reconstruction, may be necessary. The depth of milling and the thickness of the new asphalt layer are determined based on the severity of the surface defects and the desired level of improvement in ride quality and skid resistance. Therefore, while it may provide a minimal structural benefit, milling and resurfacing mainly focuses on improving the pavement's surface characteristics and ride quality, addressing functional distresses.