Asphalt pavement is a composite material made of stones and sand mixed with asphalt. Asphalt is a dense, viscous, dark liquid derived from petroleum. The substance is sometimes called bitumen, a name that emphasizes its adhesive nature and its resistance to damage from water and oil. But it is important to note that bitumen and asphalt are not the same thing. Now, while bitumen is a binder, asphalt is the entire composite mixture of aggregates that include stones and sand bound together by bitumen.
It consists of 90 to 95% aggregates and sand, with the remaining 5 to 10% being asphalt or bitumen. This is obvious; the aggregate provides the strength of the structure, while the asphalt is an elastic adhesive. The asphalt can well glue together aggregates and sand because of its high viscosity; it is durable yet adaptable to any condition of the environment.
One of the greatest strengths of asphalt is its natural flexibility. When asphalt cools, it loses flexibility, but its initial flexibility allows the pavement to adjust to temperature changes and the constant motion resulting from traffic loads. It is very beneficial for regions experiencing warm, cool, or rainy weather conditions. Asphalt pavement is considered very durable and tough, making it a favorite for use under most traffic streams:
The production of asphalt pavement involves several meticulous steps to ensure quality and performance:
Each component should be precisely measured. The aggregate and asphalt are weighed using belt weighing instruments to maintain accurate proportions.
The aggregates are dried in a rotary drying drum. Moisture is removed. The aggregates will now bond properly with the asphalt. Changes in the weight of aggregates while drying are duly noted.
On drying, the lumps are sieved to uniformity and then stocked in silos to prevent contamination.
Liquid asphalt is heated up and stored in insulated tanks that keep it in a liquid condition. Apparently, temperature seems especially important to achieve proper mixing.
The aggregates are mixed with heated asphalt in the mixer. Asphalt input into the mixer is carefully controlled to ensure uniformity. The resulting hot asphalt mix is stored in heated silos until it is ready for transport.
This will involve a preparation phase of site clearance, excavation, compaction, and grading. A base ensures pavement strength, stability, and surface durability; it is typically made up of a compacted stone or even more technical one such as the asphalt base.
The hot asphalt mix is transported to the job site in dump trucks. Transportation must be made very fast so that the mix does not cool down prematurely.
The procedure for asphalt involves depositing the material into a designated area and then compacting it onto the ground. This process ensures good bonding to adequately yield a rigid and smooth surface. Depending on the desired application and load of pavement, additional layers can be added.
Asphalt pavements offer numerous advantages that make them a preferred choice in construction projects:
Asphalt pavements are designed to withstand tremendous heavy loads as well as constant flows of traffic; therefore, asphalt is suitable for the busiest highways and airports.
Indeed, asphalt pavement has a relatively low initial cost compared to other materials, and its prolonged life greatly minimizes the need for recurrent repairs.
The smooth surface of asphalt pavements minimizes wear and tear on vehicles while simultaneously enhancing driving comfort. Additionally, it offers improved skid resistance, thereby contributing to enhanced road safety.
Asphalt paving projects are completed relatively quickly, minimizing disruptions to traffic and daily activities.
Asphalt can be fully recycled, thus providing an environmentally friendly alternative. Reclaimed asphalt retains their original properties; hence the demand for virgin material and energy consumption is thereby minimized.
HMA is the most common type of asphalt used in road construction. It is produced at high temperatures, thus ensuring a strong and flexible pavement.
WMA also consumes much less energy and produces fewer emissions than HMA. It is, therefore, excellent for such projects that boast about environmental friendliness.
Cold mix asphalt is applied in temporary repair and in areas where hot mix asphalt plants are not accessible. Though not as durable, it promises to be applied rapidly and easily.
Porous asphalt allows water to drain right through its surface, which reduces runoff and increases groundwater recharging. This product is often used in parking lots and driveways.
While asphalt offers numerous benefits, there are challenges associated with its construction:
Asphalt paving requires specific weather conditions. Extreme cold or rain can disrupt construction or compromise the integrity of the pavement.
Over time, asphalt pavements develop cracks and potholes, primarily because of heavy traffic and natural weathering. As such, the pavements necessitate timely maintenance to increase their durability.
Availability of proper aggregates and bitumen may have to impact the cost and feasibility of asphalt paving works.
Asphalt pavements are the very basics of modern infrastructure. Durable, flexible, and cost-effective, these pavements have a multitude of applications, from highways to parking lots. In this sense, understanding what an asphalt pavement is, how it’s made, and what benefits it can offer makes stakeholders better decision-makers for the success of their projects. And as technology advances and sustainability becomes a priority, the outlook for asphalt pavements is good, as they will allow for the continued construction of efficient and resilient infrastructure.
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Director, President – Glen Raven Technical Fabrics
Strata/Glen Raven tenure: 10 years/28 years
Total industry experience: 35 years
MBA – Wake Forest University
Directs the strategic direction of Glen Raven’s automotive, protective apparel, military, geogrid, outdoor and logistic businesses.
Director, General Manager, Strata Inc.
Strata/Strata Inc. tenure: 3 years/14 years
Total industry experience: 25 years
MBA – Georgia State University
Led the integration of Strata Inc. business operations into the headquarters of GRTF and transition from USA based to India based manufacturing.
Director
Strata tenure: 17 years
Total industry experience: 47 years
CA – ICA
Played a key role in the establishment of Strata’s India operations. Provides vision for product innovation and leveraging new technology trends.
Global Technical Sales Director
Strata tenure: 7 years
Total industry experience: 32 years
Civil & Geotechnical Engineer (First class)
Provides highly technical and innovative civil engineering solutions in India and around the world. Responsible for the design and execution of large-scale geotechnical projects around the world including Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and South America.
CTO – Chief Technology Officer
Strata tenure: 9 years
Total industry experience: 48 years
BTech (Hons), MTech (Civil) Both IIT Bombay, DMS (Bombay University), FIE, FIGS, Chartered Engineer
Streamlines the designs of Geosynthetics and has brought innovation in geogrid and geocell design application.
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Strata tenure: 13 years
Total industry experience: 24 years
MBA – University of Gujarat
Leads the monetization of products and solutions while ensuring highest execution quality and project profitability.
COO – Technical Textiles
Strata tenure: 13 years
Total industry experience: 33 years
BE (Mechanical) – Nagpur University
Drives excellence in process design, product features and cost effectiveness in production.
CFO – Chief Financial Officer
Strata tenure: 8 years
Total industry experience: 35 years
CA – ICA, ICWA – ICWAI
Leads the finance, accounting, taxation, commercial, legal and IT functions and assisting on all strategic and operational matters.
CDO – Chief Development Officer
Strata tenure: 10 years
Total industry experience: 13 years
MBA – ISB, Hyderabad
Leads diversification of the product portfolio, monetizing the new products and ensuring successful sustained financial growth of the company top line.
CEO – Chief Executive Officer
Strata tenure: 14 years
Total industry experience: 42 years
B Tech (Chemical) – IIT Delhi
Leads day-to-day business operations of the company with focus on capacity expansion, product and process improvement.
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