Astana, Kazakhstan, Tauelsizdik Avenue (SMA-20 with Veleton MPC)
Tauelsizdik Avenue is a section with moderate traffic loads but pronounced peak hours. Morning and evening congestion, intensive braking, frequent starts, stops, turns and junctions created increased shear loads in the surface course.
The main problem was shear deformation, waves and shoving at bus stops, pedestrian crossings, entrances and junctions. In summer the situation was aggravated by pavement heating, under which standard SMA-20 lost its shape stability faster.
The task was to strengthen the surface course without changing the asphalt plant's logistics and to keep the pavement stable under stop-start driving.
An SMA-20 mixture modified with the Veleton MPC polymer additive was used in the surface course, by dry addition directly into the mixer at the asphalt plant.
Together with the contractor, the grading was refined, the target air void content of the mixture was set, the temperature regimes for production and paving were determined, and compaction control was strengthened in the loaded zones: bus stops, pedestrian crossings, entrances and junctions.
Veleton specialists provided an audit of the materials, adjustment of the SMA-20 mixture composition, the full cycle of adding Veleton MPC into the mixer, control of the even distribution of the polymer, setting of the temperature regimes, support of production at the asphalt plant, support of paving and compaction at the site, and focused control of the zones carrying peak loads.
Over 10,000 t of modified mixture was produced. The section is under observation by the contractor and the municipal services, with no issues recorded.
The pavement is visually stable: no waves, scuffing or shoving at the kerb.
In Hamburg Wheel Tracking testing the rut depth was 1.5 mm / 20,000 passes. Rutting resistance increased by 200% relative to unmodified SMA-20.
Veleton MPC strengthened the shear resistance of the bitumen matrix and increased the thermal stability of the mixture. This matters particularly for sections with stop-start driving, where the pavement constantly works under braking, pulling away and summer overheating. The key effect is that the pavement holds its shape under intensive peak loads.
The projected funds freed up on local repairs are 120-180 thousand USD a year, through a reduced frequency of patch repairs.
- Type
- Urban arterial road with peak loads, stop-start driving, bus stop and turning zones
- Problem
- Shear deformation and shoving at bus stops, junctions and pedestrian crossings under summer pavement heating
- Solutions / technology
- Veleton MPC, dry addition into SMA-20 at the asphalt plant
- Result with Veleton
- Over 10,000 t of modified asphalt mixture; the pavement remains stable, with no corrugation, shoving or shear deformation.
- Rut depth / key indicator
- 1.5 mm / 20,000 passes
- Effect on the budget
- 120-180 thousand USD a year on local repairs
- Additional effect
- Higher shear resistance and thermal stability of the pavement under stop-start driving
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