Due to age, accumulation of water under the soil structure and too much traffic, pavements and roads as well become distressed to an extent of developing little craters. This could also be as a result of freezing and thawing which creates openings to allow for water to enter. If maintained is not carried out, then the cracks developed become potholes with some being very deep. Potholes develop in depth with time and can become large enough to cause damage to vehicles, with some causing serious road accidents. The process of restoration can be categorized into two major categories that are, temporary methods and semi permanent methods. This article describes some of the important methods that can be used in pothole repair.
First of all, it is important to understand the materials used in the process of making and repairing pavements. The materials used are asphalt in nature and are made up of binder and aggregate. The mixture can either be a hot mix or cold mix. The mixture is mostly produced by asphalt plants following certain specifications.
One of the repair methods is known as throw and roll. This is not a permanent solution and is mostly applied in areas affected by harsh weather conditions especially during winter. But in some cases, the method can be applied to bring about lasting results, especially when the pothole dries off.
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.
The other method is semi permanent and involves removal of water and all forms of debris from the hole. This is then followed by making cuts on all the sides in order to place the asphalt mixture which can be hot or cold. In this method, a vibratory roller is used to compact the mix material. This method is however labor and equipment intensive.
The other method that requires the use of advanced tools and equipment is the spray injection. The debris and water, in this case, are usually removed by blowing and then the materials are sprayed onto the hole. Asphalt is then used to cover the patched section. For this method, no compaction is done.
With many inventions and innovations taking place in the world, a better and permanent solution has been achieved in this field. This involves the use of infrared technology to fix potholes. With this method, an infrared beam is used to heat and soften the asphalt materials in the pavement and turn it into a hot mixture. The defective material is therefore recycled and more hot mixture is added and compacted.
It is important to have pavements and roads with potholes repaired to avoid further disintegration and deterioration which may be more expensive to repair. Frequent checks and monitoring should be done in order to apply the best methods.
First of all, it is important to understand the materials used in the process of making and repairing pavements. The materials used are asphalt in nature and are made up of binder and aggregate. The mixture can either be a hot mix or cold mix. The mixture is mostly produced by asphalt plants following certain specifications.
One of the repair methods is known as throw and roll. This is not a permanent solution and is mostly applied in areas affected by harsh weather conditions especially during winter. But in some cases, the method can be applied to bring about lasting results, especially when the pothole dries off.
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.
The other method is semi permanent and involves removal of water and all forms of debris from the hole. This is then followed by making cuts on all the sides in order to place the asphalt mixture which can be hot or cold. In this method, a vibratory roller is used to compact the mix material. This method is however labor and equipment intensive.
The other method that requires the use of advanced tools and equipment is the spray injection. The debris and water, in this case, are usually removed by blowing and then the materials are sprayed onto the hole. Asphalt is then used to cover the patched section. For this method, no compaction is done.
With many inventions and innovations taking place in the world, a better and permanent solution has been achieved in this field. This involves the use of infrared technology to fix potholes. With this method, an infrared beam is used to heat and soften the asphalt materials in the pavement and turn it into a hot mixture. The defective material is therefore recycled and more hot mixture is added and compacted.
It is important to have pavements and roads with potholes repaired to avoid further disintegration and deterioration which may be more expensive to repair. Frequent checks and monitoring should be done in order to apply the best methods.
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