Asphalt Pavement Reinforcement

Increased strain on our roads

Our highways are experiencing unprecedented pressures; increased usage and reducing maintenance budgets.

Simple resurfacing is only a temporary fix

When flexible asphalt pavements are exposed to repeated cyclical loads, rutting, pothole formation and fatigue cracking can occur. With increasing vehicle use and axle loads, this problem may also get worse. Simply resurfacing a problem pavement will only temporarily improve the situation as cracks from the underlying layers soon propagate into the new overlay, causing premature aging. This reflective cracking can also be a problem when asphalt overlays are placed on existing concrete pavements.

Maccaferri asphalt reinforcement solutions are used to address highway problems:

• Reflective cracking

• Thermal and fatigue cracking

• Rutting and shoving

• Haunching failure

• High-axle loads

• Construction on peat soils

• Differential settlement

• Weak subgrades

• Reduced construction layer thickness.

Reducing the whole life cost through effective reinforcement.

The reinforcement of asphalt pavements can produce a threefold increase in the service life of highway pavements by reducing fatigue, reflective, thermal and settlement cracking. With increased fatigue life and extended maintenance intervals, the “whole life cost” of a reinforced pavement is less than an unreinforced one.

Reinforcement reduces road stress

Stress concentrations in the asphalt matrix are relieved and redistributed by the reinforcement, resulting in:

• Delayed initiation of cracks, slower crack growth

• Narrower crack width

• Wider spacing between cracks

• Deviation of cracks.

Our products for new-builds and overlays

We offer a range of reinforcement products for bituminous paving. Whereas MacGrid AR glass fiber and polyester geogrids inhibit reflective cracking, Road Mesh additionally structurally reinforces the pavement. Road Mesh provides lateral restraint to the asphalt, which improves resistance to rutting and shoving. As it structurally reinforces pavements, Road Mesh can also be used in new-build roads, and not just overlays.

Effective solutions based on research and experience

We know our solutions function well based upon extensive research and development in cooperation with leading universities and research institutes, as well as practical project experience over many years. Our research has contributed to the development of our design software MacREAD, which our engineers use to solve our client's roadway problems.