Monday, April 4, 2016

Major Techniques Applied In Pothole Repair

By Anna Anderson


Just like any other constructed structure, pavements and roads may disintegrate with time and loose their worth due to various reasons. This, for example, includes age, bad weather conditions and continued traffic which continues to weaken the loose sections. Areas prone to excessive freezing and thawing experience such problems as cracks and openings are made to allow water to enter and accumulate. The cracks increase in width and depth with time and develop into potholes. One of the problems associated with this involves damage to car parts such as wheels. Some are very deep and can cause life threatening road accidents. Most of the measures put in place are usually temporary but that does not mean there are no permanent solutions. This article looks at the various methods used in pothole repair.

Before we look at the methods, it is important to, first of all, know the different materials used to construct and repair roads. Asphalt is the main material used and consists of binder and aggregate. The mixture is categorized into two groups that are, cold mix and hot mix. The asphalt plants that produce the mixture usually work under given specification depending on the local area.

Throw and roll is the first method used. This method is temporary and is mostly used in areas where there is a difficulty in controlling the mixture placement. For instance, during winter, the temperatures are usually unfavorable and this interferes with the whole process. However, this procedure may lead to better outcomes when the hole is dry at the time of placement.

Another alternative to throw and roll is a procedure known as the edge seal repair. The asphalt material used in this case is placed on the edges of the hole until it is full. Once the repaired section is dried up, the next step involves placing sand on top to help prevent tire tracks from passing vehicles. However, the tack material is placed after some time since the area is first to let to dry.

One of the most important methods is referred to as the semi permanent method where the first step is to remove water and debris from the rut. The second step is to make side cuts around the section and then place the hot or cold mixture. In order to compact the mixture, additional manpower and equipment like the vibratory roller are required.

Another procedure that requires highly specialized equipment is known as the spray injection. Here, the water and debris is blown off from the pothole and then a tack coat is sprayed at the bottom of the hole. The area is then covered with a layer of asphalt and aggregate. However, in this technique, no compaction is required after the covering layer is placed.

Such repairs just like any other field continues to receive advancements in terms of using more advanced equipment, tools and methods. A permanent solution is now achieved through the use of an infrared panel. This method involves heating of the asphalt mixture using the infrared rays to soften it and make it recyclable. With this, a more hot mix is added and made compact.

Pavements and roads may disintegrate and loose their value with time if no immediate measures are taken to address the problem. Therefore, frequent monitoring should be applied so as to avoid more expensive repair.




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