O&M
   

Material 

Based on state-of-the-art investigations, we use innovative materials and construction methods that are monitored and supervised by an elaborate and multi-disciplinary Project Management Team.

Highly Modified Asphalt (HiMA)  

Cube operates and maintains two assets in the State of Rajasthan (Jaipur – Mahua and Mahua – Bharatpur). These assets experience heavy axle loads, high volume of commercial traffic and extreme temperature conditions (very hot in summers and cold in winters). Because of these conditions, despite using polymer modified bitumen, the pavements of these assets experience high distress and premature failures. To prevent this failure and enhance pavement life, Cube, for the first time for a Highway in India, considered Highly Modified Asphalt (HiMA) for overlaying a part of Jaipur – Mahua section.

  • HiMA has a high dose (7 – 7.5%) of a special SBS Polymer
  • Is designed to enhance rutting and cracking resistance
  • Is costlier than conventional mix; but saves pavements from premature failure
  • It performed well for two years. Recently, MoRTH awarded Jaipur – Mahua Project with Gold Award under Innovation Category

Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) 

Because of extremely high axle loads, Jaipur – Mahua and Mahua – Bharatpur Toll Road sections experience extensive rutting. To prevent this failure and enhance pavement life, Cube considered Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) for overlaying a part of Jaipur – Mahua section.

  • SMA is a gap graded rut resistant mix which uses stone-on-stone contact for load transfer and durability
  • SMA was considered for a 20km section and the performance is being monitored
  • It is ~25% costlier than the conventional bituminous mix
  • It is expected that SMA improves pavement life by preventing rutting and hence provide good level of service to road users

Stone Matrix Asphalt SMA

Conventional Hot Mix Asphalt HMA

Fibre based Micro-surfacing 

LHS Carriageways of Jaipur – Mahua and Mahua – Bharatpur Toll Road sections predominantly carry empty vehicles and therefore low axle loads. Cube considered Fibre-reinforced Micro-surfacing for resurfacing LHS of both Jaipur – Mahua and Mahua – Bharatpur sections.

  • Fibre based Micro-Surfacing is a sacrificial layer applied to protect the underlying surface; which is free of distresses and structurally sound
  • Glass fiber additives added to micro-surfacing mix to improve fatigue resistance
  • The purpose of this micro-surfacing is to improve surface friction, fill ruts/minor surface irregularities and seal pavement cracks
  • Executed on ~300 lane km and its performance is being monitored; after 2 years on Jaipur – Mahua, the results are very encouraging

Bitumen Modification using FEP 

Functional Elastomeric Polymer (FEP) is a cellulose fiber pellets used for polymer modification of bitumen at site.

  • FEP pellets are coated with preactivated polymer
  • Dosing these pellets directly into HMP pugmill helps in modification of binder
  • This eliminates elaborate arrangements that are required for polymer modification of bitumen
  • However, mixing time in HMP shall be increased to have a proper homogenization of polymer with virgin bitumen
  • A trail section of ~4 lane km is executed on Jaipur – Mahua section, and the performance is being monitored
  • Initial laboratory results are promising, and this can be a solution for high rut sections