by Dale Starry,  director of strategic technologies, Volvo Construction Equipment

There is debate about how closely behind the paver the breakdown compactor should roll during hot-mix asphalt (HMA) laydown.

Some industry experts suggest the breakdown compactor needs to nearly bump the paver to take full advantage of the reduced mix viscosity with the HMA pavement at its hottest temperature. These experts believe that optimum achievement of target density cannot take place if the breakdown compactor is too far back in the rolling zone from the paver.

For the full white paper Proper Placement of Breakdown Compactor including charts, click here.