Plant and Equipment Determine Quality of Road Construction
Road Infrastructure projects are time constrained; early completion of project entitles rewards while delays attract penalties. The plants and equipment being used determines the quality of the road construction, and the output of the plants and equipment is dependent on the skill of the operator and the condition of the plants/equipment including other factors.
Dr Anjaneyappa, Department of Civil Engineering, RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru
One of the most important quality parameters for unbound aggregate pavement layers like GSB (Granular Sub-Base) and WMM (Wet Mix Macadam) is gradation, which is maintaining appropriate size, shape and proportion of aggregates in mix. Similarly, for bituminous layers like DBM (Dense Bituminous Macadam) and BC (Bituminous Concrete), the most important quality parameters are gradation and temperature of mix during production, spreading and rolling. Segregation is the separation of coarser particles from finer particles. It affects the gradation and results in poor quality pavement layer. However, segregation cannot be avoided but is minimized through all possible means during construction. This article discusses the influence of crushers, tippers, hot mix bituminous plants, pavers, and rollers on the quality of pavement construction.