TM 5-830-3/AFM 88-17, Chap. 3
personnel. Aggregate should be spread in a layer about
3-5. Surface- blanket method
2 inches thick and should contain at least 80 percent by
This method includes the use of aggregates,
weight of particles retained on the 1/4-inch screen.
prefabricated membranes and mesh, bituminous surface
Traffic over aggregate blanketed areas tends to press
treatments, polyvinyl acetates (with and without
the material into the soil and pulverize the surface;
fiberglass scrim reinforcement), and polypropylene-
therefore this treatment is not recommended where
asphalt membranes to create a surface blanket for dust
channelized traffic is expected.
control. The type of treatment used will dictate the
(2) Prefabricated membrane.
Membrane
equipment required. However, standard construction
used to surface an area will control dust and even act as
equipment in all cases can be used effectively to place
a surface course or riding surface for traffic that does not
any of the systems applicable to the surface blanket
rut the soil. When subjected to traffic, the membrane
method.
Mechanized equipment should be used
can be expected to last approximately 5 years. Minor
wherever possible to assure uniformity of treatment.
repairs can be made easily. For optimum anchorage,
a. Effectiveness. The surface blanket method is
the membrane should be extended into 2-foot-deep
applicable to nontraffic, occasional traffic, and traffic
ditches at each edge of the covered area; staked in
areas. Aggregate, prefabricated membrane, and mesh
place and the ditches backfilled. Further details on the
treatments are easy to place and can withstand
use and installation of prefabricated membranes can be
considerable rutting. The other surface blanket methods
obtained from TM 5-330/AFM 86-3, Volume II.
will only withstand minimal rutting. Once a surface
(3) Prefabricated mesh. Heavy woven jute
blanket treatment is torn or otherwise compromised, and
mesh such as commonly used in conjunction with grass
the soil exposed, subsequent traffic or airblast will
seed operations can be used for dust control of nontraffic
increase the damage to the torn surface blanket while
areas. The mesh should be secured to the soil by
producing dust from the exposed soil.
Repairs
burying the edges in trenches and by using large U-
(maintenance) should begin as soon as possible to
shaped staples that are driven flush with the soil surface.
protect the material in place and keep the dust
A minimum overlap of 3 inches should be used in joining
controlled. Three types of materials may be used as
rolls of mesh. After being placed, the mesh and covered
surface blankets:
soil should be sprayed with a bituminous material. Trial
-Mineral
aggregates.
applications are recommended at each site and should
-Synthetics
membranes or meshes.
be adjusted to suit each job situation.
-Liquids
Bituminous
or
polyvinyl
(4) Bituminous surface treatments. Single or
acetate liquids.
double bituminous surface treatments can be used to
b. These materials may be used alone or in the
control dust on most soils. A medium-curing liquid
combinations discussed below.
asphalt is ordinarily used to prime the soil prior to
(1) Aggregates. In arid areas where most
placement of the surface treatment. Fine-grained soils
vegetative covers do not survive because of low rainfall,
are generally primed with MC-30, and coarse-grained
crushed or uncrushed gravel, slag, or tone aggregate (2
soils with MC-70. After the prime coat has cured, a
inches maximum size) can be used as a dust palliative
bituminous material is uniformly applied and gravel, slag,
on non- traffic or occasional traffic areas. Aggregate is
or stone aggregate spread over the treated area at
not recommended in close proximity to aircraft traffic
approximately 25 pounds of aggregate per square yard.
because gravel particles may be picked up and thrown
by airblast with possible damage to aircraft and ground
3-7
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