Recent research work based on the concept of relative rigidity has indicated that the use of steel rollers of present design will result in the initiation of surface cracks that may lead to premature failure of newly constructed asphalt overlays. A new compactor, the asphalt multi-integrated roller, or amir, has been developed to prevent the construction-induced cracks. Two prototype models were built and used to compact asphalt concrete for field and laboratory evaluation. Early results of field trials carried out in Egypt confirmed the findings of analytical and experimental investigations of previous research work. The results of the laboratory testing program showed that the amir compactor will prevent the formation of construction cracks, resulting in up to 40 percent higher tensile strength and up to 65 percent higher strain energy in coparison with asphalt concrete compacted with steel rollers currently in use.
Samenvatting