SECRET TRIALS AIM TO CURTAIL ASPHALT'S REIGN

This article reports the beginning of the construction in Cornwall, England, of a unique high-specification, very strong concrete road base that could revolutionise pavement design; details are being kept secret until its trials have been completed. The scheme plays a major part in the Department of Transport's response to almost continuous criticism of the design of concrete roads and is an Anglo-Danish joint venture called Ecopave. Trials are being conducted over a 1km section of new carriageway on the A30 at Bodmin Moor; a large batch plant has been erected on the site to mix the concrete. Ecopave is being developed as a new multi-purpose composite system, which could eventually combine the best characteristics of contemporary surfacing material and the most recent materials technology. The road pavement will consist of a cement-bound road base with an asphalt wearing course. The Ecopave system is expected to produce stronger and more durable roads than more conventional methods, with lower whole-life costs. The success or failure of the system depends on the ability of Ecopave to demonstrate that microcracking can be induced which does not result in reflective cracking in the wearing course. Two systems of controlling cracking formation are being investigated: a) promoting intrinsic microcracking due to restraint; and b) mechanically induced microcracking. (TRRL) (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00107859
• Corporate Authors:

  Reed Business Information, Limited

  Quadrant House, The Quadrant
  Brighton Road
  Sutton, Surrey  United Kingdom  SM2 5AS
• Authors:
  • Webb, C
• Publication Date: 1990-8-30

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 1
• Serial:
  • CONTRACT JOURNAL
  • Publisher: Reed Business Information, Limited
  • ISSN: 0010-7859

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt; Bitumen; Concrete; Experimental roads; Pavement design; Subgrade (Pavements); Wearing course (Pavements)
• ITRD Terms: 4963: Bitumen; 4755: Concrete; 2778: Experimental road; 3055: Pavement design; 2961: Roadbase; 2953: Semi rigid pavement; 2980: Wearing course
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00623793
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1992 12:00AM