Asphalt rollers are large machines that help smooth and flatten our roads. They are huge and look as if a large truck collided with a heavy metal drum. They keep us driving safely on the roads without jiggling around: They are asphalt pavers.
When a road is constructed or repaired, the asphalt roller is used to ensure the asphalt is pushed down and packed tightly. Hot asphalt is first poured onto the roadway. Next, an asphalt paver machine rolls on the fresh asphalt, pressing it down and squeezing out any air pockets. This gives the road strength and smoothness.
Asphalt rollers contribute to the strength of a road. It can help make the road less likely to break or crack by packing the asphalt tight. This matters because we want our roads to have a decent quality of life while not demanding maintenance too often.
Asphalt rollers can do more than just paving jobs. They spend their days on roads, parking lots and even airport runways. Asphalt rollers come in a range of sizes, from small and bordering on the toys described on the previous page to those that resemble huge lorries for motorways. This versatility makes them valuable tools for any type of building project.
Getting the perfect flatness is a major job for the asphalt roller. Flatness is the act of squeezing the air out of the asphalt — making it smooth. This binds the asphalt together and results in a strong road. The driver of an asphalt roller is specially trained to adjust the weight and speed of the roller to ensure perfect flatness.
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