Articles Tagged: compaction

Why Subgrade Strength Matters The subgrade is the ultimate load-bearing layer of every pavement system. If it lacks adequate stiffness or uniformity, vertical wheel loads are amplified downward, causing plastic deformation that migrates back to the surface as ruts. FHWA research shows that rutting i…

The base and sub-base layers sit between your surface course (asphalt or concrete) and the native subgrade. They distribute traffic loads, provide frost protection, and create a stable platform for paving equipment. Because traffic volumes, truck percentages, and utility demands vary dramatically be…

When building or rehabilitating roads, poor soil conditions can quickly turn a solid plan into a maintenance headache. Stabilizing subgrade soils improves load-bearing capacity, reduces swelling, and extends pavement life, but choosing the right method depends on local soil properties, climate, envi…

A “long-life” or perpetual asphalt pavement is engineered so that the bottom of the asphalt structure never experiences fatigue cracking during its design life (often > 50 years). When distress finally appears, it is confined to the upper few inches and can be removed with a mill-and-…

Spring thaw is when potholes, and frustrated phone calls, multiply. But it’s also the time crews are forced to patch with less-than-ideal weather, limited hot-mix availability, and saturated pavement. The result is all too familiar: a “fixed” hole pops back open weeks, or even days…