From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
A chipseal road in the United States

Chipseal (also chip seal) is a pavement surface treatment that combines one or more layer(s) of asphalt with one or more layer(s) of fine aggregate. In the United States, chipseals are typically used on rural roads carrying lower traffic volumes, and the process is often referred to as "asphaltic surface treatment". In Australia and New Zealand chipsealing is used on a larger percentage of roads, both rural and urban.[1] This type of surface has a variety of other names including "tar and chip", "sprayed seal"[2] or "surface dressing".[3]


Chipsealing is cheaper than resurfacing an asphalt concrete or a Portland cement concrete pavement, but not as long-lasting. In some states of the United States, chipsealing is used in conjunction with new road construction to make the road bed more durable and longer lasting.

A chipseal road in the United Kingdom


Chipseals are constructed by evenly distributing a thin base of hot bitumen or asphalt onto an existing pavement and then embedding finely graded aggregate into it. The aggregate is evenly distributed over the seal spray, then rolled into a smooth pavement surface. A chip-seal-surfaced pavement can optionally be sealed with a top layer, which is referred to as a fog seal or enrichment.




Noise and vibration effects[edit]

The rough wearing surface of the chipseal generates more roadway noise at any operating speed than does typical asphalt or concrete surfaces. This typically is not a major concern at very low operating speeds; moreover, chipseals are typically used on low volume rural and urban roadways. These sound intensities increase with higher vehicle speeds.[4] There is a considerable range in acoustical intensities produced depending upon the specific tire tread design and its interaction with the roadway surface type.



See also[edit]

Bituminous surface


  4. ^ Hogan, C. Michael (September 1973). "Analysis of highway noise". Journal of Water, Air, & Soil Pollution (Springer Verlag, Netherlands) 2 (3): 387–392. ISSN 0049-6979. 

External links[edit]