APE May 2020 | Page 32

ASPHALT ANSWERS ing in regards to how thick your mat or lift is. In my experience, the roller oper- ator needs to take note not to get into a hurry as traveling to fast will cause gaps or ripples in your mat. If the operator isn’t running the correct settings, or traveling at the correct speeds, it can af- fect the quality of your mat and overall life of the pavement. Roller Passes The roller operator starts compaction at the tie-in points and follows the edge from there mainly using dynamic vibra- tion, thus increasing the effect of com- paction. Best practices dictate that the intermediate pass should be done with a pneumatic roller as the tires compact in a different “kneading” motion, add- ing to the density numbers. The final roller pass is generally completed with a steel drum under static in an attempt to “iron out” any remaining irregularities such as lines left by the drum, or tire marks by the pneumatic roller, etc. Roller Passes While the industry is shifting on different mix designs to increase life expectancy or decrease air voids, one important factor that will remain is the compaction you have on your mat directly impacts the quality and life of your pavement. These small steps can make the difference in a good job versus a great job. And great jobs get referrals. We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the stress we all have been going through the last couple of months. On behalf of the entire in- dustry, we salute those who have been deemed “essential” and look forward to getting back to normal. John Greaney is a Territory Manager for LeeBoy and can be contacted at [email protected] For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry www.callape.com [32] 1.800.210.5923