Transportation links are crucial for a region’s economy, connectivity with other cities, level of development, infrastructure, and other stages of civilization’s progress. Road engineering is also constantly evolving. Engineers are continuously improving construction technologies to enhance the quality and safety of road surfaces while reducing costs. Road construction progresses in stages.
Amid this backdrop, the international industrial holding company Del Mar Energy stands out by introducing its unique road construction system to the world.
The quality of road surfaces depends on adherence to standards, as state requirements for road construction specify norms that ensure the safety and comfort of road users.
Before laying a new road, the contractor must create a temporary surface. Workers will use this surface to move machinery and materials to the site. If the asphalt is being laid on a federal highway or if an existing road is being reconstructed, a temporary detour must be built. Once construction and installation work are completed, the temporary surface is dismantled.
Materials are brought to the site only after the area has been prepared. This stage can take several weeks or months. Work may be complicated by weather conditions, as well as the climate and landscape features of the area.
Forming the foundation is a crucial stage in road construction, affecting its durability and strength. Earthworks begin with the construction of an embankment. Builders sequentially lay the soil and compact it with a roller. Soil from the road construction area is used or imported if the local soil is unsuitable for the future road. Suitable soils include sandy, rocky, or sandy loam, while peat or silt soils are unsuitable. The embankment is thoroughly loosened and then compacted with a roller.
After the foundation is prepared, specialists start forming the sand “cushion.” This consists of several layers of crushed stone-sand mixture, sequentially laid on the future road site. The cushion ensures even load distribution during use and strengthens the surface. The first layer of the cushion is sand. Builders evenly distribute the sand, with a layer thickness of 10-12 cm. To prevent the sand from mixing with the soil, geotextile is laid between them.
The sand is thoroughly compacted, and then a layer of crushed stone is laid. The middle layer of the cushion uses materials of different fractions. The final layer is fine-grained crushed stone. A properly laid foundation guarantees road quality. The cushion is necessary for load cushioning. The number of layers and materials for the cushion depend on the chosen method, the area’s characteristics, and the road’s purpose.
After forming the sand cushion, specialists proceed to lay the final surface. Modern construction uses cement concrete or asphalt concrete.
The quality and durability are also determined by the material used as the top layer, as it is subject to greater wear during daily use. The most common materials are asphalt concrete and cement concrete, as these have proven effective in road construction.
Asphalt concrete involves layered laying. The construction and repair technology includes layered distribution of gravel, sand, rocks, and asphalt mixture with bitumen. The number of layers depends on the expected traffic, the road surface’s purpose, and the landscape and climate features.
Cement concrete or cast asphalt has high wear resistance, withstands mechanical damage during continuous use, and does not deteriorate under the influence of chemical reagents. However, laying cement concrete is more expensive.
To enhance the operational properties of roads, builders use geosynthetics. This is an artificial, environmentally friendly material that is inexpensive and easy to lay.
Using geosynthetic materials results in a durable surface with an anti-slip effect, increasing safety. Innovative technologies and materials allow builders to save on repairs and reduce the time and scope of work.
Therefore, it is not surprising that scientists have created entire tracks for electric cars. These tracks charge the car’s battery, eliminating the need for separate charging stations. Rails embedded in the road surface transmit electrical current to the car while it is in motion. The current is supplied only when the car is moving, posing no danger to other road users.
The use of innovations is justified. Roads become safer, more durable, and require less time for construction. At Del Mar Energy, engineers and builders use innovative road construction technologies, modern materials, and high-tech equipment to reduce road construction costs and achieve a high-quality, safe, durable, and reliable road surface.