BACMI PAVES THE WAY FOR BITUMINOUS MATERIALS

A report is presented on a seminar, held in Sutton Coldfield in November 1983 organised by British Aggregate Construction Materials Industries (BACMI), on the subject of aspects of laying bituminous materials. The seminar was divided into three sessions entitled plant, weather and the job. Papers were given on pavers, chipping spreaders and rollers in the first session followed by a paper on joint ACMA-Wimpey asphalt research into the cooling of asphaltic layers. This involved analysis of mathematical models for predicting temperatures in bituminous layers at various depths at different times after laying and comparison of the predicted cooling rates with those observed in experiments covering a wide range of materials and conditions. The most suitable mathematical model was found to be that developed by Jordan and Thomas at TRRL. Three papers were given in the afternoon session dealing with construction specifications with particular reference to compaction. The report also includes a summary of the discussion which followed each session and of the summing up given by Dr RS Millard. (TRRL)