Asphalt paving is the action of applying a strong and leveled pavement on a road utilizing the combination of aggregates that include sand,
gravel as well as crushed stones with the binder, which is a petroleum product known as bitumen.
This mixture called hot mix asphalt is used in different ways; on roads, driveways, parking lots, highways,
and even recreational areas. It is a highly flexible method of installation, thus it is suitable for application in any civil construction project.
Asphalt is so commonplace because it is relatively inexpensive compared to other materials that might be used for constructing roads.
Beside the affordability of the material, one of the more famous benefits of asphalt paving is the durability of the material.
The composition is to be sufficiently strong to cope with loads bearing by heavy traffic, climate conditions and any sort of rhythmical usage.
This durability makes it ideal for use in such areas such as highways and city roads
where durability and low maintenance are the main properties of the road construction material.
Asphalt also provides good contact, or friction, which is particularly important in relation to traffic safety especially in conditions of wet weather.
Besides, since the material generally used in production of asphalt has properties that allow it to handle temperature changes,
it is suitable for areas that experience a lot of variation in climatic conditions.
It is also resistant to the effects of frost and thereby does not crack in the way that many other pavings do in cold climates.
Flexibility also plays a role in making asphalt long lasting, it can be able to take stress and
weight and still remain strong even after many years of installation.
Some of the strategies associated with the use of asphalt paving include;
preparation and design of the site, placement of hot mix asphalt, compaction of the placed asphalt.
Also, to the environmental concern, virgin materials can be replaced with asphalt
because the recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) can be used to produce new asphalt mixtures.
Types of Asphalt Paving
Some of the classes for asphalt paving include the following;
The classes above categorize asphalt paving depending on the temperature when paving and the amount of repair work needed.
It will be easier to understand the different categories of asphalt paving and
therefore decide on which mode best suits any project.
Below are some of the most common types of asphalt paving used in construction projects:
Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)
Hot Mix Asphalt is one of the most common types of asphalt that is used for making roads,
highways and other areas of massive traffic.
HMA is made by incineration of a combination of aggregates (fine aggregates-e.g. sand, coarse aggregates – e.g. gravel, crushed stone)
and a bituminous binder called bitumen.
The increased temperature facilitates the manipulation of the mixture and its distribution and compaction
that helps develop a homogeneous and dense wearing surface.
Advantages of HMA:
- Durability: HMA is commonly associated with its deep resistance to traffic loads and fluctuations in the climate.
- Smooth Finish: This guarantees the users a comfortable drive since it has a smooth and uniform cross sectional surface.
- Long-Lasting: The HMA surfaces when well constructed and well maintained can have a life span of over twenty years.
Disadvantages of HMA:
High Energy Consumption: It should however be noted that producion of HMA involves the use of energy especially in the form of heat.
Environmental Impact: It therefore has higher emissions than the other types because the temperatures used in production are high.