Glossary
For a printable Adobe .pdf version of this page, please click here.
For a free Adobe Acrobat Reader, click here.
Alligatoring – Cracking in asphalt surface that resembles the belly of an alligator. Alligator cracking begins on the bottom of the pavement and is the result of deflection or bending of the pavement under wheel load or failure in the sub-grade.
Base Course – The strata of material lying between native material or rock sub-base and upper running course or pavement. Base material is smaller than sub-base and larger than top course or running surface rock.
Cement - Finely powdered mixture of minerals ("inorganic compounds") which, when combined with water, rock, sand and gravel, harden and create concrete, as we know it.
Chip Seal – A mixture of aggregates and asphalt cements applied as an aggregate sealcoat. The asphalt cement is sprayed on the pavement and the aggregate sprinkled on the surface.
Cold Mix - A high quality mixture of a binder liquid, with rock, sand and gravel, which is used for asphalt repair work, but does not need to be kept or stored "hot", like a "hot mix" asphalt. Usually it is used for temporary repairs. Higher quality cold mix, like EZ Street® Cold Asphalt, is a "polymer-modified" mix which is also cold but is a permanent repair material.
Compaction – Consolidating soils or making them dense by rolling, tamping, vibrating or soaking.
Concrete - A hard construction material created from a mixture of cement, water, rock, sand and gravel.
Contamination – Refers to a condition where a lesser quality road material permeates and mixes with a higher quality road material. An example of contamination would be mixing native, organic soils with clean imported structural fill material.
Fabric – A crack retardant used when overlaying existing pavement. Fabric is placed on the existing surface of pavement before overlaying with new asphalt.
Full Depth Asphalt – Is a design methodology where the asphalt material provides the majority of the pavement structural support.
Hot Mix Asphalt ("HMA") - A high quality mixture of asphalt binder (asphalt cement, or "A/C") with rock, sand and gravel materials, created and stored at approximately 300 degrees, that hardens to become permanent by the time in cools to approximately 170 degrees.
Lift – A lay of material, rock or paving added to a road or paved lot.
Overlay – Placing new pavement directly over and onto the surface of existing pavement.
Pothole – A roadway/pavement failure resulting in a depression or hole.
RAP - "Recycled Asphalt Pavement", sometimes just called "Recyle". This is old asphalt, crushed to appropriate specifications, and used either as a loose surface material like Base Course, or more usually as a material as component of new asphalt mixes, whether a Hot Mix or Cold Mix. Old asphalt is 100% recyclable.
Raveling – The gradual roughening of the surface texture. As the fine particles “wash” away it leaves the pavement with course rock on the surface and a much rougher texture than when asphalt first laid.
Reflective Cracking – Cracks that appear in new thin overlays that are identical to cracks that were present in the existing pavement.
Remove & Replace – The act of removing existing pavement and replacing with new pavement to restore pavement to its former condition or to an improved state.
Saw-cut – A method to cleanly cut and remove hard pavement under repair.
Scope of Work – The objective and extent of work to be accomplished by the contractor.
Scuffing or Scuff Marks – Tires Tracks, Imprints or Markings in a newly paved or sealcoated asphalt surface caused from immediate usage after asphalt services have been completed. These superficial markings will disappear with normal vehicular tire impact over time.
Sealcoat – The term used to identify various coatings which are used to protect asphalt against moisture intrusion and raveling.
Segregation – The separation of rock from an asphalt mix resulting from movement and vibration.
Sub-base – The strata of material between the underlying native sub-grade and upper base course. Sub-base material is larger than base course.
Sub-grade – Native prepared mineral soil ready for fill, rock, or surfacing.
Tack Coat – A spray applied asphalt product used to bond the new asphalt to existing surfaces.
Trenching – Long and narrow excavation.
|
