ABSTRACT
Abstract In most cou n t r i e s of the world asphalt pavement of road networks represents the l a r g e s t s i n g l e investment i n the tr a n s p o r t a t i o n sector. In Canada, asphalt, pavements b u i l t over the past 50 years are worth more than 70 b i l l i o n d o l l a r s ( i n 1984 D o l l a r s ) . I n ord e r t o m a i n t a i n the current road network at the present l e v e l of s e r v i c e and prevent i t from f u r t h e r d e t e r i o r a t i o n , over 8 b i l l i o n d o l l a r s i s needed annually. T r a d i t i o n a l l y , asphalt l a y e r s are compacted using the
conventional s t e e l drum r o l l e r s . These r o l l e r s may have v i b r a t o r y a b i l i t i e s as w e l l as rubber coated drums. In North America as w e l l as i n many parts of the world, the a s p h a l t mats are compacted u s i n g one of these heavy r o l l e r s followed by a m u l t i wheeled rubber r o l l e r . I t i s bel i e v e d t h a t the rubber r o l l e r w i l l s e a l the surface cracks induced during the passes made by the s t e e l r o l l e r . Recent research work based on the concept of r e l a t i v e r i g i d i t y has i n d i c a t e d that the r a p i d d e t e r i o r a t i o n of new a s p h a l t pavements i s d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o c u r r e n t compaction equipment. I t has been shown a n a l y t i c a l l y and experimentally t h a t s t e e l r o l l e r s used i n compacting the a s p h a l t l a y e r w i l l r e s u l t i n s u r f a c e c r a c k s d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n and w i l l remain even a f t e r the m u l t i wheeled rubber r o l l e r s are used. T r a f f i c and environmental i n f l u e n c e s w i l l a c c e l e r a t e the f a i l u r e of the new l a y e r .
