

MATERIALS & PRODUCTS

Popular Types of
Road Construction
Materials
A quick overview of the most popular road making
materials.
Updated October 7, 2022
By Maina Njihia 

Laying of asphalt. PHOTO | FILE

Road construction is a highly technical venture that requires a range of distinct

materials to ensure the motorways are durable and well able to support heavy loads
and tra몭c.
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Road materials range from natural soils, aggregates, binders such as lime, asphalt,
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Road materials range from natural soils, aggregates, binders such as lime, asphalt,
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concrete, and assorted products used as admixtures for improved quality of roads.

Road materials
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Here’s a list of the popular types of road construction materials:

1. Soil
Soil naturally tops the list of materials used in road construction. It is the eventual
point which supports the complete structure of the road.

Indeed, soil is the primary road material for the foundation, subgrade, or the
pavement in the case of low tra몭c rural roads. It provides the essential 몭at base that
offers the vital support for the road structure.

A process known as compaction, where soil particles are pressed together to reduce
pore space between them, is usually carried out on site to give the soil at the base
some higher resistance and greater stability.

Being a natural material, soils have different qualities that need to be studied
carefully before building a road. Soils with more clay and silt particles, for example,
are prone to erosion and contraction if they come into contact with water.

Such soils require special treatment to avoid poor workmanship.  

2. Aggregate
Stone aggregate, also known as mineral aggregate, is easily the most important
component of materials for road construction. It is made by breaking up naturally
occurring rocks to form coarse aggregate (like gravel) or 몭ne aggregate (like sand).

Aggregates are used for granular bases, sub-bases, as part of bituminous mixes and
cement concrete. They are also used as the primary material for relatively cheaper
road, known as water-bound macadam.

Like soil, aggregates must be tested by a road engineer to ascertain that they are
strong enough and durable for a speci몭c project. These properties are in몭uenced by
their origin, mineral components and the nature of bond between the components.

3. Asphalt and Bitumen

Asphalt and bitumen are often mistaken as being one and the same thing. However,
while asphalt is a mixture of aggregates, binder and 몭ller, used for constructing
roads and their associated furniture, bitumen is actually the semi-solid binder that
holds asphalt together.

Bitumen, which is also known as mineral tar, is obtained through un몭nished

distillation of crude petroleum. It contains 87% carbon, 11% hydrogen and 2%
oxygen.

On the other hand, asphalt is manufactured in a factory that heats, dries and mixes
aggregate, bitumen and sand into a composite mix. The material is then applied on
site using a paving machine at a nominated or required thickness, depending on the
type of project.

READ: The 7 Most Powerful Road Construction Equipment

When used for road construction, asphalt comes in the form of a composite material
known as asphalt concrete. This road making material is 70% asphalt and 30%
aggregate. Asphalt is 100% recyclable, which makes it one of the most popular
materials for making roads.   

4. Concrete
Concrete offers a lot of 몭exibility and ease of construction – making it an important
road material. It is created by mixing cement, coarse aggregate, 몭ne aggregate,
water, and chemical admixtures (which make up 25-40% of concrete).

In addition to reducing costs, concrete is popular among road builders due to its
ability to extend the service life of a road.

It can also be used to raise the bearing capacity of existing pavement layers.

A well-made concrete mixture sets and hardens because of the binding property of
cement. It forms a mix with slimmest void space.
cement. It forms a mix with slimmest void space.

On curing with water, it provides a strong, steady and long-lasting pavement for a
road – resisting repetitive impact from heavy commercial vehicles.

Composite Pavement
This is a type of pavement that uses both asphalt and concrete to form a ‘super’
pavement.

Composite pavements can potentially become a cheaper alternative to traditional

pavements thanks to their ability to provide higher levels of performance and
durability, both structurally and functionally.

The downside of concrete is that it is susceptible to problems such as re몭ective

cracking and rutting in the surface layer. However, these potential hitches can be
resolved by applying a premium asphalt surface or through some other (costly)
mitigation techniques.

Eco Friendly Road Material

Road builders are increasingly under pressure to lower their carbon footprint. This is
important considering that cement, a key input material in road construction,
contributes one tonne of carbon for every tonne of cement produced.

Reduction of carbon emission can be achieved by use of alternative road

construction materials such as crushed concrete – a recycled material – which can
generate enormous savings in energy and production costs.

Sustainability can also be reached through the use of eco friendly concrete, which
cuts the usage of Portland cement in road construction.

Besides, the use of recycled materials components, which are produced from
industrial wastes, can lower greenhouse gas emissions while cutting costs.

Other sustainable materials include reclaimed asphalt pavements, recycled concrete

aggregate, and coal combustion products obtained from coal-몭red power plants.
FAQ:
What are the materials used for road construction?
Asphalt and concrete are the most common types of road materials.

Asphalt is manufactured in a factory that heats, dries and mixes aggregate, bitumen
and sand into a composite mix. Concrete is created by mixing cement, coarse
aggregate, 몭ne aggregate, water, and chemical admixtures.

What material is best for road construction?

Asphalt is easily the best and most popular material used in road construction.

Asphalt-based road construction method offers numerous bene몭ts including low

noise during pavement, and relatively low construction costs.

What are the types of road construction?

The four major types of road construction methods. These include earth road, and
gravel road, bituminous road, concrete road, and water-bound macadam road.

Read full article here.

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