# Corrugation and Shoving

A form of plastic movement typified by ripples (corrugation) or an abrupt wave (shoving) across the pavement surface. The distortion is perpendicular to the traffic direction.

- Canonical URL: https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/pavement-management/pavement-distresses/corrugation-and-shoving/
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Review: reviewed by licensed professional engineers on the previous Pavement Interactive site, where reviewers were not recorded by name

## Description

A form of plastic movement typified by ripples (corrugation) or an abrupt wave (shoving) across the pavement surface. The distortion is perpendicular to the traffic direction. Usually occurs at points where traffic starts and stops (corrugation) or areas where HMA abuts a rigid object (shoving).

![Corrugations on a steep city street](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/Corrugations.jpg)

![Shoving at a busy intersection](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/Shoving.jpg)

![Shoving in the parking lane of a collector road.](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/Shoving2.jpg)

*Figures 1–3.* Corrugations on a steep city street Shoving at a busy intersection Shoving in the parking lane of a collector road.

## Problem

[Roughness](https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/pavement-management/pavement-evaluation/roughness/)

## Possible Causes

Usually caused by traffic action (starting and stopping) combined with:

- An unstable (i.e. low stiffness) HMA layer (caused by mix contamination, poor mix design, poor HMA manufacturing, or lack of aeration of liquid [asphalt emulsions](https://pavementinteractive.org/glossary/asphalt-emulsion/))
- Excessive moisture in the subgrade

## Repair

A heavily corrugated or shoved pavement should be investigated to determine the root cause of failure. Repair strategies generally fall into one of two categories:

- **Small, localized areas of corrugation or shoving**. Remove the distorted pavement and [patch](https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/maintenance-and-rehabilitation/maintenance/hma-patching/).
- **Large corrugated or shoved areas indicative of general HMA failure**. Remove the damaged pavement and [overlay](https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/maintenance-and-rehabilitation/rehabilitation/overlay/).