Improving Patch Joint Bond Strength

摘要

Traditionally, asphalt concrete that must be removed because of deterioration or utility work is saw-cut and excavated with a backhoe. But the process of breaking the asphalt into manageable pieces for hauling can be time-consuming and laborious. Also, the smoothly cut vertical faces of the original pavement then offer minimal mechanical interlock with the patch material. Increased mechanical interlock between patch materials and original pavement can improve patch performance by reducing joint faulting. The extent to which patch bond strength can be improved by the introduction of a rough surface texture, such as that developed by Pleasant Grove, Utah-based Asphalt Zipper, has not been previously investigated. Therefore, in cooperation with the firm, researchers in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo this spring conducted an experiment to compare the bond strengths of saw-cut and "zipped" patch joints.