“Spreaders” -- Self-Propelled Pavers

➢ The Basic
Principle of
the Spreader
has not
changed much.

➢Asphalt Spreaders
still use the same
basic design.
1
Surface Lift Thicknesses

➢ The total thickness

Upper is 240 mm
Binder
➢ Must be from a
major highway.
➢ These are
Middle
Binder SuperPave Mixes.
➢ Also 100% crushed
Lower
Binder
➢ The Lower Binder
is a Recycled mix.
2
 Lift Thicknesses

➢ The top lift is 40 mm thick.

➢ Stone Mastic Asphalt – SMA
➢ Lots of crushed stone,
providing good stone-on-stone
contact – very stable.
➢ The surface lift has a greenish tinge, which looks like
Traprock (Basalt) – one of the MTO-approved materials.
➢ A tough, igneous rock that has excellent
skid-resistance, polishing and abrasion properties.
3
 Lift Thicknesses
➢ The Aggregate Size of the
Mix Type MUST be
considered when designing
the Mat Thicknesses.

➢ Mixes with large aggregate must be paved in thicker lifts

➢ The mat thickness must be at least 2 to 2.5 times the
aggregate size.
➢ This allows room for the aggregate to re-orientate in
the mat, during compaction. 4
 Aggregate Size in Relation to Paving Depth

➢ This aggregate has room to re-orientate in the mat.

➢ The screed can then ride on top of the entire mat, closing
small voids and sealing the surface.
➢ This helps to produce a tight, uniform mat. 5
 Aggregate Size in Relation to Paving Depth

➢ Mat Thickness is too thin, compared to the Aggregate Size.

➢ Here, the Screed is actually supported by only the largest
aggregates, and not by the entire mat.
➢ The Screed “drags” the larger stones, and “tears” the mat.
➢ The result is an uneven, Open mat texture, which is not
fully sealed …. air and water can permeate more easily.
 Thickness of Mat, after Compaction
25-30 % more than
required thickness.

1.
2.

➢ ①The initial mat (behind the screed) must be 25-30%

thicker than the mat’s design thickness ②…
➢ … to allow for compaction.
➢ So, to end up with 50 mm after compaction, you need about
65 mm behind the screed, and before the rollers compact.
➢ Workers make routine checks. 7
Tri-Axle Tandem

Trucking options.
Live-Bottom

Belly Dump
8
 h
o
D
7

➢ Live-Bottom. Unloaded by a big conveyor belt.

9
➢ The ground is too unlevel for a Dump Trailer to dump.
➢ Dump Trailer
➢ Never stand beside a truck dumping, especially a
trailer!!! They do topple, especially when dumping on
uneven, softer materials.

https://heavytrader.ca/23287/for-sale/
10
➢ The operator is watching the line.

➢ MTV – Material
Transfer Vehicles --
“Shuttle Buggies.” 11
 PAVER -- High Production Highway Spreader
➢ A Rubber-tire Asphalt Spreader: Placing the mixture in
a uniform layer, having a good surface texture.

12
The Basics
➢ An Asphalt Paver or “Spreader” consists of two basic
components: The Tractor and the Screed.
➢ As noted, it’s the same basic paver as years ago.

Hopper
Depth Crank

Screed

Tow Arm
Push Roller Tow Point Auger Pivot Point
13
 The Tractor and the Screed.

① 14

➢Material is dumped into the hopper ① which is moved

back by the Slat Conveyors ②, through the Feed Gates. ③
 The Basics: Material Flow through the Spreader

1
Hopper

2
Auger Gear Box
4
Auger
Slat Conveyor ③Feed Gates 5

Screed
Material is dumped in the hopper ①. It is pulled moved by the
Slat Conveyors ②through the Feed Gates ③. It drops onto the
road in the Auger Chamber, and the Augers④ move the material
to the left and right. The Screed ⑤then “strikes off” (levels off)
15
the material. The screed provides some initial compaction.
 The Basics
➢ On a typical job…

➢ The truck backs up to paver, and tries not to bump into it.
➢ (This causes a bump in the pavement).
➢ The paver usually connects itself to the truck using
Wheel Locks. (Wheel Hitches)
➢ These keep the truck tight to the paver, to reduce spillage.
➢ The paver pushes the truck along the road.
➢ Pavers have Push Rollers,
which push on rear tires of the truck.16
 Pavers
Push Roller
➢ Push Rollers and
Wheel Locks.

Wheel Locks

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17
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 http://www.pavementinteractive.org/article/asphalt-paver/

Pavers
➢ Push Rollers and Wheel Locks (Hitches).

18
➢ Most often, the load is dumped directly into the
spreader’s hopper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=TfGLivz70t4 Let’s just say that
some methods vary !!

19
 The Basics
➢ It is best to raise the truck box up quickly and sufficiently
high,
…to dump the material out in large mass.
➢ Don’t just raise the box up a little, so the material just
“dribbles” out.
➢ Large stone will tend to fall out first, if the load is
dribbled into the hopper.
➢ This causes segregation of the material.

➢ Having a large mass dump out will help to keep the coarse
and fines together. 20
Material Flow through the Paver – Flow Gates

➢ The material is moved from the hopper to the rear of the

Spreader by two Slat Conveyors (Bar Feeders).
➢ We control the amount of material that is fed to the augers,
by varying:
➢ the heights of the two Feed Gates, and
➢ the speed of the two Slat Conveyors.
➢The left and right Slats run independently, to provide
more or less material to that side in the auger.

21
 Hopper Feed System
➢ These Slat Conveyors carry the mix back to the Augers.
➢ We like a nice, even flow of material. ∴ , so we keep the
Flow Gates low enough, so the slats need to run most of the
time, …say 80-90%. We don’t want the slats to flood the
augers, then stop for a while, then re-start and flood again.

Flow Gates

Hopper

Slat Conveyors
22
 Cold Feed Bin at a Hot Mix Plant
23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT6yCo285yE
➢ We don’t like big blobs of material…we like a nice, steady
flow. This Feed Gate is set too high. We want it lower, to
reduce the height of the material, then we’d increase the
speed of the belt to get the proper proportion.
 Material Flow through the Paver
➢ When the slats are running at a high percentage, we have a
regulated, near-constant flow of material.
➢ The augers aren’t running out (starving), particularly to
the outsides…
➢ and we aren’t flooding them with too much material,…
➢ due to a high slat speed or too-open gate

➢ A smooth pavement and good mat texture are highly

dependent upon a consistent flow of material.

24
 http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?121120/E4018

These Flow Gates are wide open. When the slats run (very
intermittently), you’d get big blobs of material feeding the screed.
Then, the slats would turn off, until the excess is used up.

Feed Tunnels
Flow Gates
Slat Conveyors

Hopper

25
Material Flow through the Paver -- Augers

Tractor

Screed

Auger

Tow Point Auger Chamber 26

 Slat Conveyor

Feed Tunnel

Gear Box Auger

Auger

➢Feed Tunnel, Slat Conveyors, Gear Box, and Augers.

➢The Screed has been removed. 27
 Material Flow through the Paver - Auger

➢ Material is dropped by the slats to the road in the Auger

Chamber near the centre of the paver.
➢ Each side of the screed has its own Auger, which works
independently of the other, turning on or off.
➢ The two augers have continuous flights, …
➢…which distribute this material outwards, across the full
width of the screed.

28
Material Flow through the Paver -- Augers

➢ Auger System, and the Gear Box

➢ The Augers move the material outwards.
29
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 Setting Flow Gate Heights and Slat Conveyor Speeds

➢ Ideally, the asphalt should be a little above the auger shaft,

all the way across the screed.
➢ The augers should run at a high percentage of the time,
at a nice, even pace …
➢ …moving material consistently across the width of the screed.
➢ Augers and Slats shouldn’t jack rabbit – that is, run very fast
to move lots of material outwards, then stop for a while.
30
 Augers -- Proper Material Feed Rates

➢ Correct Level:
➢ A little over the Auger shaft – say 70% Full
➢ As Level as we can get it, along whole length of Augers
➢ Otherwise, the mat is more prone to Segregation.

 ✓ 
31
 Material Flow through the Paver -- Augers 32

➢ Auger Feed Sensors tell the Augers to turn off, ….

➢ ….when sufficient material has been delivered to the ends.
➢ Slow the augers down, so they will run nearly all of the
time. (80-90%) (Less segregation and better mat texture).
➢ Q: Why not all of the time? A: We could be starving points
along the screed.
➢ Q: Why not just some of the time, say 50%?
➢ A: The Auger Speed would be too fast to get the material
moved across. This would affect the mat texture. Called
“Jack Rabbiting.” They run fast, then stop. Then run fast.
 Augers -- Proper Material Feed Rates
➢ Auger Feed Sensor: Most sensors are now optical,
as opposed to the old mechanical shown here.

When material reaches this

height, the augers stop.

When material reaches

this height, the augers start.
33
 Augers -- Proper Material Feed Rates

➢ Too much material OR too little material along the auger

can cause problems in the mat’s surface texture:
➢ Auger Shadow or Streaking or Striping across the mat.
➢ This means the Mat has an open, inconsistent texture.

➢ = Bad. More later on this.

➢ The mat isn’t fully sealed up, exposing it to air and water.

➢ So, we like a nice, steady flow of material, for the

Smoothness of the road, and for Surface Texture, as well.
34
More Basics
Tractor
Screed

Hopper

Towpoint

➢ The Screed is attached to the Tractor only at the Towpoint -

where it is pulled. It is attached in no other way.
➢ This means the screed is free to rise or fall, in response to
the various forces on it. 35
More Basics http://www.directindustry.com/prod/joseph-vOgele-ag/tracked-asphalt-pavers-41150-678873.html

Tractor

Towpoint

Screed

➢ Rubber-Tracked Spreader: The screed has been lifted up

to allow the spreader to travel. During spreading, these
36
hydraulics do NOT restrain the screed at all.
➢ Screeding off concrete is similar to how the Asphalt
Screed acts.
➢ The screed flattens out the material.
➢ There needs to be some excess of material ahead of the
screed, but not too much.

http://www.icreatables.com/exterior-home-improvement/concrete-lay.html

37
 Screed – Free-Floating Screed
Screed

Towpoint

➢ The Screed is allowed to rotate at the Towpoint hinge.

➢ It is not held rigidly in place by the tractor.
➢ ∴ We say that the screed can float.
➢ The Screed simply reacts to the forces applied to it as
it is pulled forward, and is free to rise or drop. 38
 Floating Screed
➢The screed is allowed to float, giving a smoother surface,
levelling out many existing undulations.

Rubber tire paver

Track paver

39
➢ Note how the new mat has levelled out the varying
depths across the existing, uneven surface. The only
concern is, is the “thin area” actually thick enough? 40
 Forces on Screed

➢ A number of forces act on the screed. Its mass acts down.

W
➢ As the tractor moves forward, the screed is pushed upwards
by the resistance from the material in front of the screed.
➢ The speed of the paver greatly influences these forces.
➢ The screed’s Angle of Attack can be adjusted up or down.
➢ The resultant force of all of these separate forces determines
the thickness of the layer. 41
 Screed – Free-Floating Screed
➢Forces that influence the balance of the screed:
➢The screed rises if:
➢ The head of material increases in front of the screed
➢ The speed of the Tractor increases
➢ The material temperature drops (the mix is more stiff).

Material bulk in front of screed too high. 42

 Screed – Free Floating Screed
➢Forces that influence the balance of the screed:

➢The screed will drop if:

➢ The head of the material in front of the screed decreases
➢ The speed of the Tractor decreases
➢ The material temperature increases (the mix is less stiff).

Note: Material bulk in front of screed becomes too low. 43

 Screed – Free Floating Screed
➢Forces that influence the balance of the screed:

➢The height of the screed remains constant only if all

forces acting on the screed are in equilibrium.

=
➢ Slat Conveyors and Augers are correctly adjusted.
➢ Mass of material in front of the screed is constant.
➢ Constant speed. 44

44
➢ Constant Temperatures.
➢ Flooding the material in front of the screed will cause the
screed to rise.
➢ The extra material causes an additional force for the screed
to pull along, as the tractor moves forward.
➢ The outcome is that the screed will climb (A). As the
excess material is used up, the screed falls again. (B)

45
 Augers -- Proper Material Feed Rates
➢ So, we want the flow of material from the Slats to the
augers to be constant, and the augers outwards.
➢This keeps a Constant Head that the Screed pulls along.
➢We don’t want the level to vary, because the screed will
lift and drop.
➢ Also, keep the paver speed constant!
➢ We can feel the screed’s variation on the road, like a wave.
➢ We also get a better mat texture with the constant level.
46
 Angle of Attack
➢ You have to keep the
“tips up” while skiing.
➢ This is the “Angle of
Attack.”

a
α
➢ There also has to be an Angle of Attack with the screed.
47
 Angle of Attack

48

➢ Some Angle of Attack is required to allow the material to

flow under the screed, and leave a good, closed mat finish.
➢ Otherwise, if the screed is too flat, it will pull and drag on
the material, leaving an Open mat finish.
Angle of Attack

Depth Screw

➢ We can adjust the mat’s thickness by turning the Depth

Screw, which changes the Angle of Attack.
➢ Increasing the Angle of Attack allows more material to pass
under the screed, giving a thicker mat depth.
➢ Decreasing the Angle of Attack has the opposite effect –
➢Less material is flowing under, so the screed drops. 49
Angle of Attack

Depth Screw

➢ Turning the Depth Screw only pivots the Screed’s Angle

up or down, where the screed attaches to the Tow Arms.
➢ The Depth Screw does not physically raise or lower the
Screed – it just changes the Angle of Attack. 50
 Screed Reaction Time

➢ Any change of force that is applied to the screed, will take

about 5 lengths of the tow arm, to fully take effect, and for
the forces to become re-balanced.
2
➢ Much of the change ( ) occurs within 1 to 1.5
3
Tow-Arm Lengths.
1
➢ The remaining change takes another 4 Arm Lengths 51
3
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Screed Extensions

➢ These screed extensions will slide in and out

➢ We saw the narrow width of this Spreader on Slide #36.
52
Extending Screed

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➢ The width of new pavers can be nearly doubled, …

➢… from their original width.
➢ This hydraulic screed extensions can slide along the
main screed, to accommodate a greater width. 53
 Screeds
➢ The Screed plate is a metal plate, about 600-800 mm
wide.

Screed plate kits • Dynapac - Fayat Group

54
 Screed Extensions ➢ This Spreader has a Screed
Extension. The Screed is
extended out from the
main body.

55
➢ You can just see the top of the Augers, and the Screed Plate.
 Screed and Auger Extensions

➢ When the Screed is “extended,” …

➢ …. Auger Extensions might be needed to help move the
material more uniformly across the entire Screed. …

➢ They are just additional lengths of auger, ……

➢…that are attached to the main auger.

56
➢Too much material in front
of screed extensions. Will
cause them to lift up. Need an
Auger Extension!! Large
Stone is rolling out of mix.
Optical Auger Sensor

57
 Need an Auger Extension

Wheel Locks (Should not be more than 18” from th

end of the auger to the End Gates.) 58

➢ Consider auger extensions! There is so much

force on the screed and cow that it has to be
chained. The outside is nearly starved at the End
Gate, but it’s almost overflowing elsewhere.
➢ This is a long distance to not have Auger Extensions and
Auger Tunnels (bulkheads).
➢ Large stone has rolled in front of the mass: Segregation.
➢ Tack coat is too thin and sparse.

59
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/closeup-details-industrial-machinery-working-asphalt-
359027927?src=FTYqd8bGXqAhgznx2OKRnw-1-18
 Almost starved of
material here.

➢ This is a fairly long distance to not have an Auger

Extensions (or a Tunnel). Shouldn’t be more than 18”
➢ Also, excessive material above auger shaft. 60
 ✓
➢ A variable screed extension, with extendable augers. Good!
61
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 ✓
➢ Compare the previous slides to this: It uses auger
extensions to feed the material out, and a tunnel or
bulkhead to hold the material in place, so the screed
extension doesn’t have to push a mountain of material
➢ ….Helps to prevents the “S” Word”... 62
 ✓
Good overlap
at End Gate

➢ Auger Tunnels help to hold the material in place, when the

Screed is extended. A more controlled delivery. 63
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 Screed Unit

➢ At Start-up, the screed plates are heated with Propane or

Diesel burners, similar to a BBQ burner, or electrically.
➢ Usually only at the morning start-up, or during very long
wait times between trucks.

➢ The heated screed helps keep the mix from sticking to a

cold screed, causing flaws (tearing) in the mat.

➢ You don’t want to overheat the screed, because it could

warp the steel, and burn any material under the screed.
64
 Screed Unit

➢ Most spreaders have a vibrating screed, called a

Live Screed,
➢….as opposed to Dead Screed that does not vibrate.
➢ Vibrations are created by a rotating shaft that runs down
the length of the screed.
➢ The shaft has more weight on one side, which throws the
shaft out of balance, causing vibrations.

65
 Screed Unit
➢ This shows the rotating shaft of the vibrator inside the
screed.

Screed

66
 Vibrating Screed Unit

➢ Live Screeds have many advantages.

➢ The Vibrating Screed gives a small amount of initial
compaction to the mix.
➢ The vibrations reduce the friction between the asphalt mix
and the screed plate, as the screed passes over.
➢ Also, the vibrations brings up a tiny bit of AC from the mix
that further reduces friction by lubricating the screed.
➢ This extra bit of AC also helps to seal the surface.

67
 Vibrating Screed Unit

➢ ∴ A Vibrating screed gives the mat a better texture, …

➢ The material passes under the screed more easily.
➢ There is less dragging and tearing of the material.
➢ We don’t want an open mat.
➢ A closed mat texture helps to seal the surface from air and
water.

68
 http://www.equipmentworld.com/caterpillar-brings-its-quick-heating-screed-system-to-two-new-pavers-the-ap655f-ap600f

Automatic Grade Control System

➢ Gives Automatic Control for the Profile and Cross-fall of
the lift. Gives a smoother ride.

−2.0%

69
 Cross-fall Sensor
drawing of rear of car - Google Search

70

➢First, the system can maintain the specified Cross-fall of the

mat, including superelevation in curves.
➢ It will detect any deviation between the screed‘s
actual cross-fall, compared to the desired cross-fall.
➢A cross-fall that varies up and down isn‘t comfortable...
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Profile Sensors


➢ This Matching Shoe simply tells the paver how to match the
depth of the existing material.
➢ It does not smoothen out the existing profile along the road.
➢ Many jurisdictions do not allow them at all !! 71
Profile Sensors
➢ The longer the ski, the
better the averaging out
of the road’s profile, to
provide a smoother ride.
➢ Some skiis are 13 m
long.
➢ This one makes contact
with the road.
➢ The fancy name for a ski
is a “Reference Beam”
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 73
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➢ This Ski has “UltraSonic Sensors,” that measure the
distance to the ground. This ski does not physically touch
the ground. Keep your feet from under the sensors74!!!
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The Basics
Tractor
Screed

Hopper

Towpoint

➢ We know that the screed is pulled by a hinge at the Towpoint.

➢ The Towpoint can also be raised or lowered, which gives a
slight change to the angle of attack, to raise or lower that side
75
of the screed.
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Automatic Control of the Mat

➢We can see that the information from
the ski is fed to the Grade Controller.
➢A signal is sent to raise or lower the
Tow Points, to slightly increase or
decrease the Angle of Attack, to raise
or lower each side of the the screed
slightly.

Tow
Point
76
 Levelling – Automatic Levelling System
G276M-P-N-D900624755-in-Stock.html
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Slope Sensor
Profile

C/L

Varying Cross-fall

➢So, not only do we get a smoother Profile, we get one with a

more-constant cross-fall.
➢Both are very important, giving a much smoother ride. 77
 COMPACTION
Rubber-
Spreader
Tire Roller

Breakdown Finish
Roller Roller
➢A typical Paving Train…
➢Good Compaction Leads to good asphalt Performance…
➢ This train would be for a Surface Lift. 78

➢(We don’t often use a Finish Roller on a Binder.).

 Reasons For Good Compaction:
➢ Why do we pay a lot of attention to Asphalt Compaction???:
➢ 1) To increase the density of the mat, which provides
shear strength and stability…
➢… This gives us better resistance to rutting.

➢ 2) We don’t want the under-compacted material to be

further densified under traffic loading after construction.
➢This causes rutting.
➢(Remember: There are other causes of rutting!)
79
 Reasons For Good Compaction:
➢ Continued.
➢ 3) To ensure the mixture is waterproof, …
➢ …..by closing up and sealing the open texture and gaps on
the surface.

➢ A mat with a tighter surface will also help to prevent

excessive oxidation of the asphalt binder, …
➢….. by reducing the channels that air can permeate into
the mix.
➢ Note: We need some Air Voids (2-4%), but not too many.
80
Double-Drum Vibratory Roller -- Breakdown

81
 Vibratory Roller -- Breakdown

82

➢ The Breakdown Roller is usually the first roller to compact

the mat, after it is placed by the spreader.
➢ They typically are “Double Smooth-Drums with Vibration.”
➢ They give the most amount of compaction to the mat
(because they make the first passes on the loose material).
 Vibratory Roller -- Breakdown

➢ Note: The
Breakdown roller
makes a slight
curl as it stops to
change direction.

➢ The Breakdown Roller will pack right up to the spreader,

(except for perhaps the very hottest of days.)
➢ They usually make two passes on the mat.
83
 Vibratory Roller -- Breakdown

➢ On most models, both the Amplitude and Frequency of

vibration can be adjusted….
➢ Similar to granulars, different mat thicknesses and different
mixes will react better to either longer or shorter intervals,
(mixes with larger aggregate need a little more time) …
➢ …. Before being “hit” again by another impact.
➢ The particles can better re-orientate themselves, which
84
allows for better (and easier) compaction.
 Vibratory Roller -- Breakdown

➢ Also, it is helpful that we can adjust the amount of energy

applied to the mat, …
➢ ….. as we do not want to break aggregate!!
➢ When a stone is broken, …
➢ Water can enter behind the AC, which will cause the
AC to strip from the stone….ravelling the agg.

➢ Also, we don’t want roller marks in the mat, caused by too

much energy.  called Chatter marks
85
 Compaction Issues – Chatter Marks
➢ Below, The mat has been rippled – you can see little waves.
➢Called “Chatter Marks”
➢ These are the impact marks from vibratory drum.
➢ The vibration has broken some aggregate.
➢ Possible Causes:
➢Amplitude is too high. ∴ Adjust settings.
➢The mat is a little too cool, resisting compaction.
➢Breakdown roller should be closer to the paver
➢(plus many things to ensure mix is warmer when
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placed.)
 Compaction Issues –Issues
Compaction – Impact
Chatter MarksMarks

Note the wavy and

rippled- looking mat.
Lots of broken
aggregate, too.

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 Vibratory Roller -- Breakdown
➢ Adjusting the frequencies and amplitudes often requires…
➢ ... a Technician with a Compaction Gauge.

➢ The Tech will let the Operators know if sufficient

compaction is being achieved, …
➢ … and they can immediately adjust the Rolling Train.
➢ Recall, there is a new-ish generation of Roller that can
automatically detect densities, called:
➢ “Smart Rollers,” or “Intelligent Compaction.”
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 89

➢Water tanks, to spray water onto the drums. This stops the
hot asphalt from sticking to the roller drums. A little bit of
stuck asphalt would leave marks all the way up the new mat!
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➢ Scrapers clean off any material that sticks to the drum.

➢ Cocoa Mats help brush the drum, and distribute the
water spray, to help with material sticking to the drum.
 Compaction Issues - Stopped Straight
➢ The Breakdown
Roller stopped at
straight across,
creating a bulge
➢ The Bulge may not
roll out, and may
create a bump.
➢ Stop at a 30° angle

 91
Compaction Issues - Stopped on Mat
➢ The Breakdown
Roller should be
parked back on
compacted mat on
an angle.
➢ This roller should

 be turned slightly,
but at least it’s
parked on the
compacted mat.
➢Never park on the uncompacted mat!
➢Leaves deep marks that won’t roll out.
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Bump Bump.
 Compaction Issues – Turned too quickly
➢ Some mats are a little Tender, and are more prone to marks.
➢ Or, it could just be very hot still. Or the packer was turned
too quickly. Tender – Low Stability.


Note the stringline that the
operator follows, but the
person adjusting the screed
extension was a little choppy.

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 Pnuematic Roller -- Rubber Tire

w.forconstructionpros.com/article/10616882/clearing-the-air-about-pneumatic-rollers
No Rubber Skirts
Breakdown

➢ Rubber-Tire Rollers work the mat after the Breakdown.

➢ For Binder Courses, they are usually the last roller used.
➢ Here, it is still leaving some marks, but they will mostly be
worked out as the Rubber-tire continues to work the mat.
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➢ For a Surface lift, a Finish Roller helps remove marks.
 Pnuematic Roller -- Rubber Tire

➢ They keep fairly close behind the Breakdown Roller, but

work long stretches of mat….making multiple passes.
➢ The tires manipulate and knead the asphalt, …
➢ …. to re-orientate the particles into a denser configuration.
➢ The front tires run over the mat, which is then rear tires …
➢ ….which are offset to the front.
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 Pnuematic Roller -- Rubber Tire

➢ The material below the tires is densified by the roller’s mass.

➢ The material between the tires is squeezed against the
material that is held in place below the tires, …
➢ ….which kneads and manipulates the material into a denser
orientation, closing gaps,
which seals the surface.

There is an overlap between the

front and rear axles.

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Pnuematic Roller -- Rubber Tire

There is an overlap between the front and rear axles.

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 Pnuematic Roller -- Rubber Tire

➢ The Rubber-tire really never stops on a high-production job

➢ It will work an area until its own rut marks are removed, …
➢ due to the material’s increased density, …
➢ and enough cooling of the mat.

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Rubber Skirts
Pnuematic Roller --
Rubber Tire

➢ Rubber Tire Rollers work the material to help close up gaps,

reducing the mat’s Open Texture, and sealing the surface.
➢ Rubber Skirts help to keep the tires warm.
➢ This reduces material pick-up, where fines stick to the tires
and leave marks all the way down the mat.
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Pneumatic Roller -- Rubber Tire

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➢ They typically have skirts

to keep the heat in and the
tires warm (less sticking)!
➢ Critical on windy or cool
days!
 Pnuematic Roller -- Rubber Tire

➢ The Breakdown will park on the compacted mat, at an

angle.
➢ You can see the marks that the Rubber Tire has left on its
first pass.
➢ These will diminish as the mat is worked, although you can
often see their remnants on some projects (not good). 101
 Pneumatic Roller -- Rubber Tire 102

➢ Rubber Tire Pick-up.

➢ We need to warm up the roller’s tires on another surface by
running it back and forth, then spraying them with a release
agent. Keep the roller moving to keep the tires warm!
➢ These Rubber Tire roller marks were not removed
during the compaction process.
➢ These are excessive.
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➢ Rubber Tire Roller marks, and Moderate Segregation.

104
 Finish Roller

➢ Finish Rollers are smooth-drummed, static rollers.

➢ Often, they have Vibratory capability, but are operated in
Static Mode 105
 Finish Roller

➢ We like to have an extra vibratory roller on site, in case the

Breakdown breaks down.
➢ The Finish Roller’s main job is to take out Rubber-tire
marks out of the Surface Mat, …. 106

➢ … and add a minor amount of compaction.

➢ They usually are not used on a Binder Course – we aren’t
as concerned with a small amount of Rubber-tire marks.
 Finish Roller

➢ The Finish operator works well back of the Rubber-Tire,

until the asphalt has sufficiently cooled.
➢ The asphalt cannot be too hot, or the Finish Roller
itself will leave marks.
➢ The asphalt cannot be too cool, or it won’t take the
Rubber Tire marks out.

➢ Finish Rollers will make ONE pass, and rarely, maybe two

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 Paver Speed
➢ OPSS limits the speed of the spreader to 18 m/min
➢ About 1.1 km/h
➢(A typical walking speed = 85 m/min 5.1 km/h)
➢ This slow speed gives a better surface texture in the mat.
➢ If the spreader moves too quickly, …
➢…the mat could be more open-textured
➢There would be more pulling and tearing on the mat.

➢However, if everything is looking good, this speed is not

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considered.
Paver Speed

➢ And with a higher speed…

➢the rollers might not be able to keep up to properly
compact the mat before the mat cools too much.
➢ However, the paver can only move as fast as asphalt is
produced, …
➢ …but we don’t want it to operate at a very fast pace to
empty all of the available trucks,
➢then sit and wait for 10 minutes.
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Checking Compaction during Paving Process. --
➢ Ongoing Quality Control (QC) is essential.
➢ Asphalt Gauge is in Backscatter Mode.

Cold Joint

110
 Checking Compaction during Paving Process. --
➢ Advice: Don’t make too many corrections to your
process, …
➢ …based on the checks from the first few
truckloads, as in photo above.
➢ (Note the Cold Joint, behind the Techs.)
➢ The plant should be up and running to produce mix at a
constant rate, …
➢ … before you make significant changes to the process.
➢ QC personnel will continually monitor the asphalt and
road. 111
 Checking Compaction during Paving Process. --
➢ Proper asphalt compaction is important!!
➢ A Contractor needs to have very quick feedback about how
things are progressing regarding Compaction….
➢ A Nuclear Gauge gives fast results to help the Contractor
make decisions …
➢ … about the Asphalt mix and the Rolling Train.
➢ We don’t want to have a lot of asphalt placed that isn’t
properly compacted!
➢ Remove and Replace & Payment Reduction are BAD words.
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http://www.steedandevans.ca/materials/quality-control-lab
 Checking Compaction during Paving Process. --

➢ A Contractor will often pay to have their own QC on-site.

➢ ① Using a Nuclear Gauge: Performing compaction tests
on the road, …
➢ … to ensure proper compaction is achieved.
➢ Monitoring Rolling Patterns, Amplitudes,
Frequencies, Number of Passes, …

114
 Checking Compaction during Paving Process. --
➢ QC Techs also:
➢ ② Take Samples from the paver, for Lab Tests:
➢ Extraction Tests: A solvent is used to dissolve the AC,
to determine the AC Content and Aggregate Gradations.
➢ Air Voids and Stability Tests.
➢ ③ Take Asphalt Cores:
➢ To check the actual compaction on the road.
➢ The Nuclear Gauge was only a check.

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 Plate Sampling There is a different Sampling method
when using a Shuttle Buggy.

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➢ Taking a Plate Sample. The paver goes over a steel plate.

The plate is picked up once the paver passes, and the
material is taken to a lab.
Extracting A Core
➢ Lab Tests are performed on Cores for Compaction.
➢ Also, the depth of the mat is checked.

Wear Ear Plugs!

117
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Compaction Tests: Cores

➢ Cores are drilled after the mat has fully cooled.
➢ Of course, the hole has to be properly filled up and
compacted. Note the different lifts and aggregate sizes!

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➢ The depth of each layer can be easily checked with a core.

➢ In the lab, tests are made to check what the actual
Compaction is of the material:
➢ How well did we actually compact the asphalt?

119
 Proper Temperature of the Asphalt is Critical
Checking Thermometers

➢ Compaction must be achieved at the proper temperatures.

➢ As the mix cools, it gets harder and harder to compact.
➢ Compaction cannot be achieved once the mix cools down
too much – AC is Thermoplastic. ….(the Cessation Temp.)
➢ ∴ OPSS limits the air temperatures that we can pave at. 120
 Air Temperature is critical
➢ The thicker Binder lifts can be placed directly upon
granular at 2 ºC minimum,
➢ or 4 ºC on a subsequent layer placed on asphalt.
➢ A thicker binder retains its heat longer, for compaction.
➢ Thin Surface lifts must be paved at warmer air
temperatures because they lose their heat so quickly.
➢ (A certain amount of heat is lost to the asphalt layer below,
and heat is also lost to the air, particularly on windy days.)

121
Requests for “Extra hot” at plant
 Air Temperature is critical
➢ MTO says that Surface lifts made with expensive Premium
Aggregates must be paved at 7-12 ºC (depends on the mix).
➢ These cost a lot, so they want to ensure things are done right
➢ This makes paving at night on Hwy 401 very difficult, later
in the construction season.
➢ Say, in late October, a Contractor may NOT be able to
pave at night, despite that there is no rain.
➢ ∴ Designers must schedule these night Contracts to be
finished before mid-October, …
➢ or to be carried over until the next season. 122
 Damp Surfaces
➢ Material should not be placed on top of damp asphalt.
➢ 1) The moisture interferes with the bonding between layers
➢ Can cause debonding of the layers.
➢ 2) The moisture takes a lot of heat away from the asphalt...
➢ …and affects the proper compaction of the mat.

➢ 3) Also, the water is turned to steam, which can easily

strip the AC from the hot aggregate.
➢ Asphalt is very prone to stripping when its hot.
➢ 4) The steam emitted is a traffic hazard. 123
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➢ Paving in the rain is not allowed.

➢ We will be looking at early maintenance of this mat.
124
➢ Plus, the steam is a traffic hazard!
 Damp Surfaces
➢ However, a lower Binder may be placed upon a damp
granular, …
➢ Damp. This means… it has stopped raining! …
➢ …but the granular is not quite dry. We will still get
good bonding between the granular and new asphalt.

➢ There definitely may not be any pools of standing water on

the granular!!

➢ A Contractor will leave sections of granular uncovered for

as long as possible, …
➢ …..so as to have a location to pave after it rains. 125
Intelligent Compaction
➢ We don’t often use the word “Intelligent” when
describing Compaction.
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127
Intelligent Compaction

➢ These IC rollers have instrumentation, that give immediate

compaction feedback to the operator.
➢ Note the GPS rover.
 Intelligent Compaction
➢ The GPS monitors the roller’s location, …
➢ …to monitor the number of passes made over an area.
➢ Accelerometers are mounted on the vibrating drum…
➢ …which know how much energy is exerted by the drum.

➢ Also, they can read the feedback response back from the
asphalt, and how it is reacting to the compactive effort.
➢ The system interprets how stiff the response is, and
calculates the density and compaction of the mat.
128
 Intelligent Compaction

➢ A computer screen will indicate which areas are sufficiently

compacted
➢ … and which areas still require more work.
➢ The roller will automatically change the force and
frequency that is applied by the drum,…
➢ ….to best suit the conditions.

129
 Intelligent Compaction

➢ An on-board screen maps out the area, …

➢ … and indicates those areas that have reached a sufficient
density, …
➢ …. and those areas that need more work.
➢ When the desired compaction level is reached, …
➢ ….the computer alerts the operator to move on to the
next area.
130
 Intelligent Compaction
➢ This is a huge advantage, because we can ensure that all
areas are sufficiently compacted…
➢ … which gives a very stable mat, resistant to rutting!

➢ However, these rollers are significantly more expensive

(say 20%).
➢ Some Contractors have adopted this technology.
➢ MTO gives a bonus for good, consistent compaction.

131
 Intelligent Compaction
-wVQbA/maxresdefault.jpg

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