摘要: |
ROAD PROFESSIONALS WILL have the opportunity to innovate asphalt pavement design and asphalt quality like never before through the implementation of proven technology developed over the past two decades, and the country will need the benefits of these recent developments to help mitigate construction-caused traffic congestion of the future. First, perpetual pavement lets engineers develop cross-sections where distresses occur only in the shallow sacrificial surface layers. This is accomplished through placing layers thick enough to lower the strains at the bottom of the asphalt so that cracking will not readily initiate and propagate. As surface distresses occur, rapid rehabilitation techniques that minimize traffic delays, like milling and filling, will provide the tools for contractors to get in and out of the work zone. Second, recent research shows that it is practical to use asphalt mixture performance testing in the design and construction of asphalt layers. Using a balanced mix design (BMD) approach to minimize cracking and rutting helps to ensure that the most durable and economical combination of materials are employed to achieve the longest possible performance and to lengthen intervals between minor rehabilitation. This helps to minimize traffic delays during construction and resurfacing. |