UFC 3-250-03
15 May 2001
CHAPTER 8
RESIN MODIFIED PAVEMENT (RMP)
1. GENERAL. Resin modified pavement (RMP) is a tough and durable surfacing material that
combines the flexible characteristics of hot-mix asphalt with the fuel, abrasion, and wear resistance of
portland cement concrete (PCC). The RMP is best described as a cross between AC and PCC and can
be categorized somewhere between these two most common types of paving materials. The RMP
process is basically an open-graded asphalt concrete mixture containing 25 to 35 percent voids which
are filled with a resin modified portland cement grout. The open-graded asphalt mixture and resin
modified cement grout are produced and placed separately. The production of the materials and the
mixture requirements for both the open-graded asphalt mixture and the cement grout differ slightly from
conventional procedures. The open-graded asphalt mixture is designed to be the support layer and to
determine the thickness of the RMP, which is generally 50 millimeters (2 inches). The open-graded
mixture is placed with standard AC paving equipment but is not compacted. After placing, the open-
graded asphalt material is simply smoothed over with a small steel-wheel roller, generally a 3-metric ton
maximum. Compaction of the open-graded AC material will adversely decrease the voids and hinder
grout penetration. After the asphalt mixture has cooled, the cement grout is poured onto the open-
graded asphalt material and squeegeed over the surface. The cement grout is then vibrated into the
voids with the small steel-wheel roller to ensure full penetration of the grout. This process of grout
application and vibration continues until all voids are filled with grout, which essentially completes the
construction process. RMP was developed in France in the 1960's as a fuel and abrasion resistant
surfacing material. The RMP, or Salviacim process, as it is known in Europe, was developed by the
French construction company Jean Lefebvre as a cost-effective alternative to PCC. The RMP process
has been used on various types of pavements including warehouse floors, tank hardstands and roads,
and aircraft parking aprons. This surfacing material is best suited for pavements that are subjected to
abrasive traffic, heavy static point loads, heavy fuel spillage, and channelized traffic. The RMP has been
successfully constructed in numerous countries including France, Great Britain, South Africa, Japan,
Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Based on this international experience and the results of
evaluations conducted by U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment (WES), the RMP process has
been recommended as an alternative pavement surfacing material by the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force,
and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Corps of Engineers has established the initial
policies concerning the use and potential areas of application. The Corps has also developed a material
and construction specification for the RMP process.
2. MATERIALS.
a. Open graded asphalt mixture.
(1) Aggregates. The required physical properties and gradation required for aggregates in the
open-graded asphalt portion of RMP are given in tables 8-1 and 8-2, respectively.
(2) Asphalt cement. The asphalt cement used shall be of the same grade as normally used in
the area. When possible, the hardest asphalt cement available should be specified to assist in providing
a stable surface for the subsequent grouting operations. The asphalt cement will have to meet the
requirements of ASTM D 946, ASTM D 3381, or AASHTO MP-1.
b. Cement slurry grout.
(1) Aggregate. The cement slurry grout requires a silica sand meeting the gradation given in
table 8-3. Silica sand is specified because of its soundness and durability. The silica sand should meet
8-1
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