About Crack Sealing
How to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Asphalt Crack Sealing
The process of asphalt crack sealing is a great way to improve the appearance of your driveway or parking lot. There are several factors to consider before choosing the right type of sealant: cost, environmental impact, and quality. Listed below are some of the main factors to consider. Once you've decided which method to use, you can move forward to the next step: evaluating the quality of sealants and the effectiveness of your crack sealing project.
Cost-effectiveness
To determine the effectiveness of different methods of crack sealing, researchers have analyzed the performance of unsealed and sealed pavement. Most studies have focused on unsealed pavement and found that sealing improves pavement performance. However, not many studies have compared the cost-benefit of different techniques. This research aims to address this gap. In this article, we will discuss the differences and similarities between these two methods.
Although it is an important preventive maintenance strategy, pavement experts differ on which method is more cost-effective. Using literature review, a survey, and field performance data, researchers have developed a cost-effectiveness guideline for pavement crack sealing. The results from this study provide a basis for comparing the various methods. Crack sealing is also more expensive than crack filling. Despite its initial high cost, crack sealing may offer longer service. More research is needed to determine whether higher performance materials are truly beneficial.
Environmental impact
While asphalt crack sealing may not have a negative environmental impact, it can have a detrimental impact on pavements. When applied improperly, crack sealing can cause damage to asphalt pavements due to moisture entrapment. Unlike other types of surface treatments, crack sealing prevents water from escaping upwards. In fact, crack sealing can reduce the lifespan of pavements by 1.1 to 2 years. This can lead to an increase in maintenance and rehabilitation costs.
This study shows that a crack seal technique can reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide by 50 percent. However, the crack seal method has the lowest overall emission reduction. The researchers suggest that all methods of preventive maintenance reduce carbon dioxide emissions. They recommend that new pavement studies incorporate sustainable pavement management components and consider the environmental impact of asphalt crack sealing. The study concludes that future pavements must incorporate a comprehensive life-cycle assessment to evaluate their overall environmental impact.
Quality of sealant
When determining the quality of asphalt crack sealant, consider the following factors: Size, shape, moisture content, and repair method. Crack sealant's success depends on several factors. Generally, a crack less than 20% in crack density requires a more flexible product. In contrast, a larger crack density requires a stiffer sealant. In addition, sealant's tackiness decreases after it has been cured.
When choosing an asphalt crack filler, make sure to choose one with the right adhesive properties. Asphalt filler is not rubberized, and it might dislodge if the pavement moves. Sealant, on the other hand, expands and contracts with the pavement. If the crack filler doesn't expand and contract with the pavement, it is not the right choice. For this reason, choosing a high-quality asphalt crack filler is imperative.
About O'Fallon, Missouri
O'Fallon ( oh-FAL-ən) is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. It is part of the St. Louis metropolitan statistical area, located along Interstates 64 and 70 between Lake St. Louis and St. Peters. As of the 2020 census, O'Fallon had a population of 91,316, making it the largest suburb of St. Louis, as well as the largest municipality in St. Charles County and the seventh-largest in Missouri. O'Fallon's namesake in St. Clair County, Illinois, is also part of the St. Louis region. The two cities are one of the few pairs of same-named municipalities to be part of the same metro area.
O'Fallon was founded in 1856 by Nicholas Krekel. The community was named by Krekel's older brother, Judge Arnold Krekel, after John O'Fallon, the president of the North Missouri Railroad. A post office called O'Fallon has been in operation since 1859 with its first postmaster being Nicholas Krekel. The St. Mary's Institute of O'Fallon was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
In 2006, Money magazine named O'Fallon 39th in its "Best 100 Places to Live". The magazine also ranked O'Fallon 68th out of 100 in 2008, 26th out of 100 in 2010, and 42nd out of 100 in 2017.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.20 square miles (75.63 km), of which 29.19 square miles (75.60 km2) are land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km) is covered by water.
O'Fallon has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Summers are hot and humid, while winters are moderately cold.
As of the census of 2010, 79,329 people, 28,234 households, and 21,436 families were residing in the city. The population density was 2,717.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,049.3/km2). The 29,376 housing units averaged 1,006.4 per square mile (388.6/km). The racial makeup of the city was 89.9% White, 4.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.7% of the population.
Of the 28,234 households, 44.7% had children under 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 24.1% were not families. About 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.80, and the average family size was 3.23.
The median age in the city was 34.3 years. The age distribution of the city was 30% under 18; 7.1% between 18 and 24; 30.8% from 25 to 44; 23.1% from 45 to 64; and 8.9% at 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.
Mastercard has a major presence in O'Fallon. Venture Stores was headquartered and maintained a distribution center in O'Fallon, until its dissolution. The buildings are now occupied by True Manufacturing. Air Evac Lifeteam, a medical helicopter service for the rural areas of the Ozarks, moved its headquarters to O'Fallon in 2015.
O'Fallon was the home of the River City Rascals independent Frontier League baseball team. The Rascals played at CarShield Field in O'Fallon, which was built in 1999. It is located on Tom Ginnever Boulevard and T.R. Hughes Boulevard near downtown. The organization ceased operations after the 2019 season. The O'Fallon Hoots and the CarShield Collegiate League now play at the stadium.
O'Fallon operates under a charter form of government. The mayor serves four-year terms without term limits and is also the President of the City Council. The 10-member council consists of two members from each of the five wards; the council had 8 members until the fifth ward was created in 2010. City council members served two-year terms until 2010, when they switched to three-year terms. The council elects a President Pro Tempore from among its members, who presides over the council in the mayor's absence.
Bill Hennessy has served as mayor since 2009. The most senior member of the council is Debbie Cook, who was elected to a Ward 5 seat in a 2014 special election and was re-elected in 2016, 2019, and 2022. In January 2022, city councilwoman Katie Gatewood became the first elected official in O'Fallon to be impeached and removed from office. She was accused of impeding the duties of the police chief and lying to the Council about the identity of a whistleblower.
As of January 2023, there is one vacancy on the council: Ward 1 councilman and President Pro Tem Dave Hinman resigned after being elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. Ward 2 councilman Tom Herweck succeeded him as President Pro Tem.
O'Fallon is served mostly by the Fort Zumwalt School District, and the westernmost part is served by the Wentzville R-IV School District. The south to southeastern part of the city is served by the Francis Howell R-III School District. St. Dominic High School is a private Catholic school located in O'Fallon; Christian High School is a nondenominational Christian secondary school also located in O'Fallon. Satellite campuses of Webster University and Lindenwood University are located in O'Fallon.
O'Fallon is served by the St. Charles City-County Library system, which has three branches in the area, two standard (Deer Run and Middendorf-Kredell) and one "express" location (Library Express at Winghaven).
While the City is within the jurisdiction of multiple agencies, fire protection is mostly provided by the O'Fallon Fire Protection District, which in 2007 became the first internationally accredited fire agency in Missouri. The award was made by the Center for Public Safety Excellence's Commission on Fire Accreditation International, which has approved accreditation status for only 120 fire agencies worldwide.
The western portion of the city is served by the Wentzville Fire Protection District.
The eastern portion of the city is served by Central County Fire Rescue.
The southern portion of the city is served by the Cottleville Fire Protection District
The far southwestern portion of the city is served by the New Melle Fire District
An extremely small portion of the city is served by the Lake Saint Louis Fire District