Otta seal is a type of bituminous surface treatment that was developed by the Norwegian Road Research Laboratory (NRRL). Its name is based on the location in which it was created, the
Otta Valley
Ottadalen ( en, Otta Valley) is a valley in the municipalities of Skjåk, Lom, Vågå, and Sel in Innlandet county, Norway.
The valley is one of the side valleys that branch off of the large Gudbrandsdalen valley. It lies on the northern edge o ...
. Otta seal was developed to be used as a temporary surfacing on new roads; however, after seeing its strength, it has been used as permanent roads as well.
Composition and application
Otta seal is formed by adding graded
aggregate
Aggregate or aggregates may refer to:
Computing and mathematics
* collection of objects that are bound together by a root entity, otherwise known as an aggregate root. The aggregate root guarantees the consistency of changes being made within the ...
to a soft bituminous binding agent. The agent is usually emulsified
asphalt
Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term a ...
. Bituminous binder application rates are between 1.9 liter/m
2 (0.42 US gallon/yard
2) and 2.4 liter/m
2 (0.53 US gallon/yard
2) – the value is dependent on aggregate gradation and type. Low quality, local aggregates are often used in Otta seal. The largest aggregate size used is between 13 and 25mm (0.5 and 1 inch). The aggregate can contain up to 10% fine gravels. Aggregate quantities are usually close to 27 kg/m
2 (50 lbs/yard
2). Otta seal is easily cured by blinding with sand because of its soft binders. The soft binders quickly coat the sand; this is not possible for seals with harder binders. Cutback bitumens in the
viscosity
The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to deformation at a given rate. For liquids, it corresponds to the informal concept of "thickness": for example, syrup has a higher viscosity than water.
Viscosity quantifies the inte ...
range of MC3000 to MC800 are the most common binders used.
[http://www.kzntransport.gov.za/reading_room/research/general/LVR8_Paper.pdf ]
Otta seal is formed in the following procedure:
# Remove dust and foreign objects from the base.
# Add small amounts of water to the base to suppress dust.
# Apply a hot binder at a rate of 1.6 to 1.9 liters/m2.
# Apply aggregate at a rate of 1.3 to 2.0 m3 to 100m2 (depending on the grading of the aggregate) of road surface.
# Flatten the Otta seal using a tired roller until binder is pressing up between the
aggregate
Aggregate or aggregates may refer to:
Computing and mathematics
* collection of objects that are bound together by a root entity, otherwise known as an aggregate root. The aggregate root guarantees the consistency of changes being made within the ...
particles. This usually has to be done multiple times, typically several days after the first flattening.
# For the first two to three weeks, allow traffic at low speeds to assist with further kneading. Aggregates will be dislodged by traffic and they should be brushed back onto the seal.
Where Otta seal is used
Otta seal is primarily used in places that do not have strict requirements for strength, grading, particle shape, binder adhesion, and dust content, which have low capital and expect relatively low traffic (up to 500 vehicles per day).
[http://www.dot.state.mn.us/materials/bituminousdocs/Pavement%20Maintenance/OttaSeal_4-pagerMRR_2008.pdf ] Currently, Otta seal is most prevalent in Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Botswana and common in Bangladesh, Australia, and parts of Africa.
Political impact
Politically Otta seal is a useful alternative versus other types of road surfaces. A city council member of a city that uses Otta seal explained that it is very cost efficient since with Otta seal they can resurface a road every 5–10 years without having to tear the whole road up every time it needs to be resurfaced. This lengthens the road life and makes it very economical.
Social impact
Otta seal does not cause prolonged delays in traffic, it takes few hours to resurface a road and is usable almost immediately afterwards. Since this is mainly used on side roads it is important that it is done quickly to prevent people from not being able to get to their houses. One negative impact is the loose gravel can cause chips or damage to windshields, but odds of this happening is lowered in slower moving traffic areas.
Environmental impact
Environmentally, Otta seal helps to lower the dust level. This helps the environment in many ways; helps with driving visibility, decrease health problems caused by dust, and reduce harm done to
crops
A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponics ...
. Another environmental benefit is that the materials used in its production are easily acceptable. There is also a reduction in environmental degradation.
Costs
Otta seal is considered to be a low cost seal. With its low initial cost and less demanding maintenance, it is a very cheap alternative for road surfaces. The cost for a double layer Otta seal is about US $2.00 to US $2.70 per square meter (US $2.40 to US $3.25 per square yard) and will last from 8 to 15 years. For a road that is 1.6 km (1 mile) long and 12 m (40 feet) wide it would cost between US $39,000 to US $52,000.
Physical properties
Otta seal is a type of road surfacing consisting of a
bituminous
Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term a ...
binding substance and aggregate rocks ranging from gravel to fine particles. It is stronger than similar inexpensive surfacing techniques such as chip seal.
The type of bitumen used can greatly affect the strength of the road.
Bitumen
Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term a ...
binders that are more viscous tend to move through the aggregate faster, but are not as hard and cannot handle heavier loads.
A huge advantage of Otta seal over other seals is the ability to use almost any type or size of crushed rocks as the aggregate. Depending on where in the world the road is being constructed and therefore what types of rock are available, the strength of an Otta seal can vary greatly. Commonly, the gravel used contains sandstone, basalt, and even coral or volcanic stones. Also, size of the particles varies greatly, with a preferred maximum of 16 mm and 19 mm (0.63 inch and 0.75 inch) for single and double Otta seals, respectively. Typically, the concentration of fine particles of less than 0.075 mm (0.003 inch) should be less than 10%.
Adhesive agents are generally added to increase the strength between the aggregate and the bituminous binder. It is this interaction that gives Otta seal its strength and durability.
Molecular structure
Since Otta seal is a combination of materials, it is beneficial to look at the molecular structures of the materials used.
Rocks are in the material family of
ceramic
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcelain ...
s. They have very rigid
crystalline
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macrosc ...
structures that stand up well to compressive forces. In contrast, sheer or tensile forces can easily form cracks in ceramics and cause failure. The bitumen acts the opposite way. It is more amorphous, meaning it is weaker under compressive forces, but can hold the rocks together and limit cracking under tensile stress.
The bitumen molecular structure is composed mostly of compressed
hydrocarbons
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and hydrophobic, and their odors are usually weak or ex ...
, sometimes containing many other elements like
nitrogen
Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at se ...
,
oxygen
Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as wel ...
,
sulfur
Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with a chemical formula ...
, and
nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel is a hard and ductile transition metal. Pure nickel is chemically reactive but large pieces are slow to ...
.
Pros and cons of Otta seal
There are many factors when considering what type of road surfacing is necessary.
[{{Cite web , url=http://www.cflhd.gov/programs/techDevelopment/pavement/context-roadway-surfacing/documents/context5-append-a1.pdf , title=Archived copy , access-date=2011-11-30 , archive-date=2012-09-16 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916050539/http://www.cflhd.gov/programs/techDevelopment/pavement/context-roadway-surfacing/documents/context5-append-a1.pdf , url-status=dead ] Most advantages to Otta seal over other inexpensive surfacing techniques spring from its ability to use a wide range of materials and material sizes during construction. Pros and cons are listed here:
Pros
* Can be used in remote areas with whatever gravel is available
* Less waste when using crushed material
* Cheaper, lower grade materials can be used
* More tolerant of pavement deflection
* Much less precise proportions, resulting in fewer mistakes
* More durable and less maintenance
* Workers require very little technical skill
* Creates job opportunities
* Resistance to cracking from solar radiation
* Impermeable, so water can run off
* Can be used in any climate
* Can be broken down and reused
Cons
* Requires more material
* The need for experienced people in charge of operations
* The need for experienced people to do maintenance
* Grade cannot exceed 8% for single Otta seal (12% for double)
* Must be applied at above 10 °C (50 °F)
Durability and weathering
Otta seal is more durable than many alternative seals. It is impermeable and resistant to cracking from the sun’s
radiation
In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or through a material medium. This includes:
* ''electromagnetic radiation'', such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visi ...
. Cracks form in all roads due to changes in temperature, but Otta seal performs better than other seals. Overall, Otta seal can be expected to last 50 to 60 percent longer than a chip seal. This results in a lifespan between 6 and 12 years if properly maintained, and even longer if a sand seal is used on top of the Otta seal.
References
Road construction