Function and composition of a surface layer

LEARNING ELEMENT OBJECTIVES

After you have learned this element you should be able to:
- explain the function of a surface layer;
- describe when a soil is suitable to be used as surfacing material;
- describe the functions and desirable quantities of the various fractions in a surface layer soil.
A road can be built up of a number of different layers: and weakening the base and subgrade, subgrade, sub-base, base and surface
layer. Roads which are built for traffic by a few light vehicles or on very good soils do not need all these different layers; it is usually
sufficient to put on a good surface layer. Sometimes even the natural soil is strong enough to carry the projected number of
vehicles. Surface layers serve to spread the traffic load (usually through a base), so that the subgrade (natural) soil is protected
from overloading and deformation. Bituminous surface layers also seal the surface and prevent surface water (rain) from
penetrating and weakening the base and subgrade.
In the case of a gravelled road this function is carried out partly by the gravel layer and partly by the camber of the road.

Fig 6
The type (bitumen, gravel, stabilised soil or natural soil) and thickness of the surface layer should ideally be determined by the
expected traffic density and the type of the natural soil. However, usually other factors, such as available funds, the location of the
road and the availability of suitable material in the area are more important when surface layers are designed.
The suitability of a soil for a surface layer depends on its behaviour in dry and wet weather. In dry weather a fairly high proportion
of clay is desirable to bind the particles together and to prevent corrugation. However, in wet weather the presence of a lot of clay
in the mixture is disadvantageous, because it makes the surface slippery and ruts are easily formed. Therefore, the specifications
for a soil to be used as a surface layer have to be a compromise between the ideal requirements for wet and dry weather.
As a rough guide, a mixture of 35-65 per cent stones, 20-40 per cent sand and 10-25 per cent clay will produce an optimum soil for
a surface layer. A higher proportion (up to 65 per cent) of suitably sized stones is preferable, as the strength and density of the hard
stones will provide a stronger surface. The gravel will behave better if the stones in the mixture are of various sizes well graded,
so that the voids in between the particles, are filled. Angular-shaped particles are preferable, because they will lock together
better than round particles.
Pure clay and silts, mixtures of silt and clay, and organic soils are generally unsuitable for surface layers.
The stony particles to be used in a surface layer should not be bigger than 3 cm in order to obtain a reasonably smooth finish.
Bigger particles should be crushed by hand or by roller.

Fig 7
A good surface layer should spread the traffic load evenly to the underlying base and prevent water from penetrating. It should also
be resistant to corrugation and provide a non-slippery and dust-free surface.
Although such surfaces can hardly be made with earth or gravel, fair results can be achieved by avoiding pure clays and silts,
mixtures of clays and silt, and organic soils.
A mixture of some 10-25 per cent clay and a good gravel (i.e. small stones of different sizes + sand) can provide a very good surface
material.
Sand/clay mixtures also provide reasonable surfaces, although the strength and durability are less than a mixture in which stones
(gravel) are present. Here again, not more than 25 per cent clay should be present in the mixture