Asphaltic pavements on continuous bases

Abstract

In the course of a meeting connected with research on road pavements, held at Konstance, in Germany, Dr. Eberle submitted for discussion and study two new methods for the construction of modern pavements. In general outline, the first of these methods consists in placing a layer of gravel, of about 18 cms depth, on top of the foundation base, after suitably treating the latter to protect it against frost. An asphaltic layer of much smaller depth is then placed on the gravel layer, which constitutes a flexible base. The asphaltic layer is the actual traffic pavement. The second method is similar to the first as regards the grading, box and foundation. The only difference is that cement mortar is applied to the gravel base, into the hollow spaces of which the mortar is made to penetrate. In both methods the top pavement is consolidated mechanically by means of suitable auxiliary equipment. The choice of one or other of the previous two methods depends on the results obtained from a general study of the location and quality of the available crushed stone, and on the facility to transport these materials to the prepared graded subbases. The author claims that the rational use of these methods gives good results, both technically and economically.