Road experts agree that the most vulnerable part of pavement is the center longitudinal joint. When facing natural elements and tension stress, voids in the joint lead to cracking and deterioration. This is why a void reducing asphalt membrane (VRAM) is essential to maintaining roads.
Applied just prior to construction, VRAM rises to fill voids within the pavement, fending off the destructive effects of air and water in longitudinal joints.
Asphalt Material, Inc. (AMI)’s VRAM product is called J-Band® and was created in the labs of the Heritage Research Group. It is a proven approach to creating longer-lasting, safer roads.
Project Details
- Owner: Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
- Prime Paving Contractor: Brown County Asphalt
- Applicator: Specialized Construction Inc. (SCI)
- Location: SR-41, Adams County, Ohio
- Date Constructed: May 29-30, 2024
VRAM Application
The project took place on SR-41 from SR-32 South to US-52, totaling 12 miles in Adams County. On May 29, VRAM was applied on the centerline joint on top of a milled road surface.
The application began at 8:00 a.m. with an ambient temperature of 57°F, while the material on board was 330°F. For this project, the band width was targeted at 15” wide with a rate of 1.22 lb/ft. Over two days, a total of 3,490 gallons were applied over 27,670 feet.
Personnel that were present on the job site were crew members from SCI, part owners of Brown County Asphalt and Chad Crosby of AMI.
Paving Observations
Paving began on May 29 around 8:15 a.m. on SR-32 heading south and continued on May 30 at 8:30 a.m. The ambient temperatures were 58°F and 57°F respectively.
The equipment used was a CAT AP1055 paver, a Volvo DD90HF steel drum roller and a Volvo DD105OSC steel drum roller. The rolling pattern consisted of one breakdown roller working high to low in vibratory mode making 7 passes. The finish roller worked across the mat in vibratory mode.
The mix temperature and migration were recorded throughout with an average of 302°F with a ½” migration rate with a shadow present on May 39. On May 30, the average mix temperature was 300°F with ½” to ¾” migration rate.
Specialized Construction Inc. was able to successfully apply VRAM on SR-41 in Adams County. The use of VRAM leads to stronger, safer and more sustainable pavements.
For a closer look at projects that have incorporated a VRAM during construction and to discover the benefits of longer-lasting roads in terms of cost savings, time efficiency, and safety, you can explore our interactive map here.
Editor’s Notes:
J-Band®, CCAP® and T-Bond® are registered trademarks of Asphalt Materials, Inc. AMIBIND™, AMIBOND™, AMICYCLE™, AMIGUARD™ and AMISEAL™ are trademarks of Asphalt Materials, Inc.
