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The Right Fit - Joint Construction

Presented by: Todd Mansell, Sakai America, Inc.

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Why joints?
• The weakest link in a pavement
structure

• Raveling along longitudinal joints

• Ride quality on transverse joints

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Erosion of mix at a longitudinal joint

Photo courtesy of J.A. Scherocman

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Erosion of mix along the joint

E. Ray Brown
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Three main objectives:

1. To get density

2. To build a smooth transition

3. To get density as quickly as possible

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How do we get there?

• Pavement design

• Paver setup

• Best Practices for compaction

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Pavement design
• Lift thickness to maximum aggregate
size

• This is a specification problem, but it

can also be a QC problem
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Lift thickness to max agg. size

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Lift thickness to max agg. size

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Paver set up
• Starting out at the transverse joint

• Finishing for the day

• Tying into bridge decks & approaches

• Setting up for the longitudinal joint

– Automatic grade control
– Augers, end gates, extensions
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Best Practices for compaction

• Different rolling patterns can be used
on longitudinal joints

• Transverse joints are longitudinal joints

turned sideways – we roll them the same
way whenever possible (cross-rolling)
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Alternatives for compaction

• Roll from the hot side?

• Roll from the cold side?

• Pinch the joint?

• Leave the joint on the first pass?

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Longitudinal Joint Construction

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Why is it tough to get density?

• Mix temps are lower at edge of mat

• Getting non-segregated mix to the edge

of the screed

• Getting enough mix to the edge

• Roll down and bridging of roller drums

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What does it take to get density?

Temperature

Temperature

Temperature
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Temperature at outside edges

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Auger extension and tunnel

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More auger needed…

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More auger needed…

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Low density – not enough mix

Invert
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Inverted joints collect water

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Paving in echelon – hot joints

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Key factors for the

construction of a durable
longitudinal joint

1. Placing and compacting the

unsupported edge

2. Placing and compacting the

supported edge
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1. Placing and Compacting the

unsupported edges
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Keep end gates on the paver down

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Compaction of the unsupported

edge
• The drum should be extended over the
unsupported edge of the lane by approx. 6”.
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Overhanging the unsupported edge

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Unsupported edges
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Do not run the steel drum

inside the unsupported edge
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Do not run the roller inside

the unsupported edge
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Do not run the roller inside

the unsupported edge
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Do not run the steel drum

directly on the unsupported edge
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Movement of the mix at the

unsupported edge

James A. Scherocman
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Do not run the rubber tire

roller directly on the
unsupported edge
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Stay about 12” in from the

unsupported edge with the
rubber tire roller
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Keep rubber tire inside edges

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NEVER run any roller directly on

the unsupported edge

Steel Drum Rubber tires

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2. Placing and Compacting the

supported edges
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Keep end gates on paver down

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Overlap of mix from lane 2 to

lane 1
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Two different types of overlap

• Overlap 1: The thickness of the
uncompacted mix

• Overlap 2: The amount of overlap of the mix

from lane 2 over the top of lane 1.
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Fluff Factor

¼”

1¼” 1” after compaction

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Fluff factor “cheat sheet”

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Overlap 2
• The amount of overlap is in the range of
½” to 1½”

• With proper overlap, no raking

½” to 1½”

Recommended Not Recommended

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Too much overlap

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Proper amount of overlap

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Proper overlap – no raking

•Save a lute man’s back
•Reduce roller passes
•Improve tons per hour

• Better density at the

joint without raking
• Lower permeability
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No raking
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Rolling from cold side

is very inefficient
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Disadvantages of rolling from

the cold side

• When rolling from the cold side, bumps

that are picked up by the roller drum (ie.
rocks) will be transferred across the mat
since the steel drum is rigid
• Mat is losing temperature
• Can not vibrate
• Slower production or more rollers needed
or lower quality
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Rolling from the cold side

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Roll from hot side with 6”

overhang
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No raking – rolling from hot side

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No raking
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The results…
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Excessive raking
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Which side was paved first?

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Do not rake flat!

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Bridging drum - low density

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“Bump” the joint

Lane 1 Lane 2
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Bumping the joint

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Bumping the joint

E. Ray Brown
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Pull excess material away

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Steel drum rollers can crush

aggregate along the joint
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Pneumatics force mix to the joint

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Straddle the joint

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Barely see the joint

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Pneumatic on left, steel on right

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Efficiency costs nothing:

Roll from the hot side

A 7-pass pattern versus a 5-pass

pattern costs 17-ft per minute of
production.

Put the end gates down on the paver,

match the joint with the proper
horizontal overlap and fluff factor
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Other considerations
• Saw cutting the longitudinal joint

• Notched-wedge joint (tapered joint)

• Joint heaters

• Wheel cutters on rollers

• Rolling 12” inside the SUPPORTED edge

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Trimming the joint

• Should tack the exposed joint
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Notched-wedge joint
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Longitudinal joint heaters

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Roller mounted wheel cutters

E. Ray Brown
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Compacting the center strip

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Review longitudinal joints

1. Put the end gates down on the paver

2. Use auger extensions and tunnels
3. Overhang the edge 6” with steel drums
4. Stay 6” to 12” inside the edge with
pneumatic tire rollers
5. Roll from the hot side
6. No raking (bump the joint if necessary)
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Transverse Joint Construction

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Paver setup – starter blocks

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Roll the joint cross ways

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Stop traffic & roll cross-ways

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Roll head on, SLOWLY !

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Finish up for the day

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• Straight edge the joint to cut it back

• Use string line and automatic grade

control to tie into bridge approaches
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Things to think
about…
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Paving in echelon – hot joints

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Rolling in echelon
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Pneumatics can improve joint density

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Use a cut-off shoe…

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…to get this…

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…then this…
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…to get this!

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SUMMARY
1. Look at the lift thickness & max aggregate size
of the mix

2. Paver setup

3. Best practices for compaction

• Overhang the unsupported edges by 6”
• Roll from the hot side 99% of the time
• Minimize or eliminate raking
• Never roll with drum or tires directly on the edge

4. Try different rolling patterns !

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Nice, no raking
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Look at the roll down – great!

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Thank you!