HaTelit®

Asphalt is an almost ideal material for road construction, but reflective cracking in new asphalt layers is becoming an increasing problem. This type of cracking is mainly the result of thermally- or traffic-induced fatigue of the asphalt.

Reflective cracks can form in asphalt laid over concrete carriageways through the horizontal movements of individual concrete slabs when they expand and contract as a result of daily or seasonal temperature fluctuations. These movements create high tensile strains in the asphalt, which can lead to cracks forming directly above the joint in the concrete.

When a wheel load passes over a crack in the road construction, bending and shear stresses are induced in the overlying asphalt layer. The degree of stress depends on the thickness of the bituminous overlay and existing asphalt surfacing, the bearing capacity of the subgrade and the amount of interlock at the crack. If the asphalt overlay is subjected to traffic load as well as a continuous cyclic movement, the strength and stiffness of the overlay are reduced by each loading event until reflective cracking occurs.

By using flexible HaTelit® reinforcement grids you can delay or even completely prevent this type of damage in asphalt layers.

HaTelit® provides highway engineers with the right answer to reflective cracking.