Assessment system for thin asphalt surfacings in Australia

Australian road authorities presently resurface many asphalt roads across the network with overlays of thickness 40 mm or greater. An alternative approach is thin asphalt surfacing systems, which are comprised of a heavy tack coat followed by a coarse gap-graded aggregate, with a typical thickness range of 12–30 mm. Thin asphalt surfacing systems have been shown to have significant functional performance benefits, while leading to cost savings in materials, easier paving operation and the ability to re-open roads shortly after paving. Internationally, many jurisdictions base their road surface renewal programs around the use of thin asphalt surfacing systems. Thin asphalt surfacings in Australia are typically used as a functional layer to restore skid resistance and safety properties in higher traffic environments over existing structurally sound pavements. Many proprietary products are used around the world and a process of approval for these products is therefore required before they can be procured using a competitive tendering arrangement in Australia. The mechanisms for acceptance in the UK and South Africa are the product approval schemes HAPAS and Agrément respectively. The Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) and the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), through the National Asset Centre of Excellence (NACOE) research program, investigated prior experiences with thin asphalt surfacing systems and researched product approval schemes around the world. With the help of AAPA, a workshop was held with industry representatives to discuss the most appropriate path for assessment, and ultimately procurement, of thin asphalt products. Following these discussions, a Transport Infrastructure Product Evaluation Scheme (TIPES) Supplement for thin asphalt surfacing systems was developed and is now published. Consultation with industry is ongoing with respect to setting performance limits, possible product applications and future trials.

• Record URL:
  http://arrbknowledge.com
• Authors:
  • Beecroft, A
  • Jones, J
  • Grobler, J
  • Denneman, E
• Conference:
  • AAPA International Flexible Pavements Conference, 17th, 2017, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Publication Date: 2017-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: Roads of the future: embracing disruption: 17th AAPA International Flexible Pavements Conference, Melbourne, 13-16 August 2017

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous materials; Bituminous pavements; Evaluation; Overlays (Pavements); Pavement components; Quality assurance; Quality control; Surfacing; Thickness; Wearing course (Pavements)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Materials technology (asphalt/bitumen/concrete)
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Asphalt; Evaluation; Overlay; Pavement materials; Quality control; Thickness; Wearing course
• ITRD Terms: 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 3096: Strengthening (pavement)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01648313
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 10 2017 2:54PM