The Quebec

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The Quebecs contractors experience with SMA
Olivier Bouchard, ing. jr. ACRGTQ Secteur
sciences et techniques Canada User Producer
Group for Asphalt CUPGA November 16th
2008 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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What is ACRGTQ ?
Translation Quebec road builders and heavy
projects contractors association A private
sector association of contractors who specializes
in road and civil engineering infrastructures
projects. More than 550 members.
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Overview

• Introduction
• Definition of SMA
• Types of SMA used in Quebec
• Contractors challenges
• Conclusion

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Introduction

• The Quebec Road Network
• In Quebec, we have 185 000 km of road.
• MTQ is responsible for approximately 29 000 km of
  road, including national and provincial highways
  and regional and collector roads.
• To built that, one thing is sure YOU NEED
  CONTRACTORS!!!
• When they have a new technology (like the SMA),
  the contractors have to modify their working
  methods.

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Definition of SMA
The high content of crushed coarse aggregates (gt5
mm) maximizes contact between aggregates.

• Good distribution of applied loads
• Excellent aggregate skeleton
• Good rutting resistance
• Good surface texture
• Flexible at low temperatures

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Definition of SMA

• Suitable for thin courses
• Quieter
• No segregation
• Longer service life
• More expensive to produce than a conventional HMA
  because
• High asphalt content
• Use of asbestos fibres
• production of 0-2,5 mm granular class.

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Types of SMA used in Quebec

• 3 types of SMA
• SMA-10 (for highways and roads with high or heavy
  traffic)
• EGM-10 (palliative interventions)
• EG-10 (for highways, casual interventions, reduce
  noise)

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Contractors challenges

• The formulation of the SMA
• Since 2008, Marshalls method is out of use. This
  method has been replaced by the LC mix design.
• LC mix design method is a combination of
  SUPERPAVE and LCPC method.
• The contractors have to modify their method of
  formulation.
• The new LC mix design method is gradually
  implanted in Quebec.

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Contractors challenges

• The progression is good for the contractors

Source MTQ
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Contractors challenges

• The formulation of the SMA
• New granulometric characteristics

Difficulty!!!
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Contractors challenges

• Placement
• MTQ has identified that pavement degradations are
  mainly attributable to workmanship issues
• Thermal and granular segregations
• Cyclic density differentials
• Truck exchanges open texture on the mat
• Cold spots from asphalt spills
• Transverse and longitudinal joints
• Paver operation
• Solutions
• Material transfer vehicles (MTV) requirements
• Infrared technology in roadwork

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Contractors challenges

• Placement
• The infrared technology and the MTV are used to
  check three points
• If temperature of HMA is lower than the
  specification of the grade asphalt
• If temperature of HMA is higher than 100C to
  eliminate the problem of bad compaction
• If we have longitudinal thermal segregation

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Contractors challenges

• Placement
• Problems

Cold Spot...
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Contractors challenges

• Placement
• Problems

longitudinal thermal segregation
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Contractors challenges

• Placement
• Solutions Material transfer vehicles

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Contractors challenges

• Placement
• Solution

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Contractors challenges

• Placement
• But the MTV is not the solution for ALL the
  problems

longitudinal thermal segregation !!!
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Contractors challenges

• Placement
• The longitudinal thermal segregation is a problem
  due to contractor's equipments. To eliminate that
  problem, a lot of work is made by the contractors
  and we hope that in few years, we have a durable
  solution for that problem.

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Conclusion

• In Quebec, we have a lot of road
• New technologies, like SMA, have many
  repercussions on contractors. But when the new
  formulation is gradually implanted, contractors
  respect the demands with a lot of work.
• For the placement of the HMA, new techniques are
  used by the contractors infrared technology and
  MTV.
• Good construction practices ensure good pavement
  performances.
• In the future, MTQ and ACRGTQ have to work in
  team to ensure a good quality of asphalt road.

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Thank you!
QUESTIONS?
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Contact

• Olivier Bouchard, ing., jr
• Association des constructeurs de routes et grands
  travaux du Québec
• 435, Grande Allée Est
• Québec (Québec) G1R 2J5
• Phone [phone]
• Toll free 1 800 463-4672
• Fax [phone]
• www.acrgtq.qc.ca obouchard_at_acrgtq.qc.ca