Paving techniques have hardly changed over the past century. However, during this period traffic loads and stresses have not only increased exponentially, they have shifted structurally from strictly vertical to principally horizontal forces. The traditional joint is no longer positioned to cope with these forces, ultimately becoming the weakest link, positioned to fail. To date, the response in road construction has incorrectly resolved this by making the joint or the entire construction more rigid. Our solution is simple: by liberating the structure, we make the joint stress-free.
Paving techniques have hardly changed over the past century. However, during this period traffic loads and stresses have not only increased exponentially, they have shifted structurally from strictly vertical to principally horizontal forces. The traditional joint is no longer positioned to cope with these forces, ultimately becoming the weakest link, positioned to fail. To date, the response in road construction has incorrectly resolved this by making the joint or the entire construction more rigid. Our solution is simple: by liberating the structure, we make the joint stress-free.
By simply but cleverly (*) integrating guiding rails into the pavement, ecostone® diverts the forces acting on the joint and compensates for them.
- the joint remains stress-free and cannot explode anymore,
- the guiding rail acts as an hinge: no coupling of forces are induced on the joint,
- the combination of rails and paving stone acts as a frame, preventing cascading instability,
- the rails create extra grip between the pavement and the lower layers.
(*) International Patent