What Is A Bumps And SagsIn Asphalt Surfaces?
What Is A Bumps And Sags In Asphalt Surfaces?
Bumps and sags in asphalt surfaces are irregularities in the road surface caused by changes in the subsurface of the road. These changes can be caused by either a change in ground composition from high or low areas, or from weathering or wear and tear on the road surface
Bumps are small, raised areas on a pavement surface. They can be caused by various factors, such as the buckling or bulging of underlying concrete slabs in an asphalt overlay, frost heave, or the accumulation of material in a crack under traffic loading.
Bumps occur when an asphalt layer rises above the surrounding pavement level due to an uneven subsurface or foundation; these bumps can cause vehicle instability, decreased traction and steering ability, as well as bumpy rides for drivers.
Sags are small, downward dips in the pavement surface. Swelling is a type of distortion or displacement that affects a large area of the pavement, causing long or large dips.
Sags occur when a depression is formed within an asphalt layer due to settlement or a deterioration in foundation material; sags are more likely than bumps to increase pothole formation and water accumulation that can lead to further damage if not treated quickly.
Both bumps and sags should be regularly monitored and repaired if necessary to maintain safe roads for all drivers.
Bumps and sags can be measured in linear feet. If bumps are spaced less than 10 feet apart and appear in a pattern perpendicular to the direction of traffic, they are referred to as corrugation. If a bump occurs in combination with a crack, both the bump and the crack should be recorded.
Causes Of Sags And Bumps.
Bumps are small, localized areas of upward displacement on a pavement surface that are caused by various factors such as instability, buckling or bulging of concrete slabs, frost heaves, plant roots growing under the pavement, or asphalt pavement laid over concrete pavement.
Sags is caused by settlement or displacement of the surface. Long or large dips in the pavement may also be caused by sags.
These defects in the pavement can be caused by various factors including oxidation, which results in the cracking of the edges.
Severity Rating Of Bumps And Sags.
The severity rating of Bumps and Sags determines the degree of disturbance it can cause in the ride quality. Low rating denotes that it generally causes small issues which can be easily tolerable.
On the other hand, a medium rating causes moderate problems with ride quality and a high rating points to major problems which cannot be overlooked for any length of time.
Thus, a clear understanding of these ratings allows one to gauge the seriousness of any bumps or sags on a road so that proper measures are taken on priority basis.
How To Measure Bumps And Sags.
Bumps or sags in a road surface are usually measured in linear feet and if they are spaced at less than 10 ft (3 m) apart, the distress is referred to as corrugation.
When these bumps occur in combination with a crack, the crack is also recorded, making it important to not just measure the bump but assess the area for other types of distresses that might be present. Corrugation can lead to a rougher ride and because increased vibration, noise levels and tire wear as traffic moves across it.
That makes it important to identify corrugations early so corrective measures can be taken promptly.