Lesson 1Overview of asphalt pavement behavior and pothole formation mechanisms (fatigue, raveling, water infiltration)This section reviews asphalt road structure and how traffic, wear, and water cause potholes, covering cracks from tiredness, loose bits, stripping, base faults, and drainage problems so teams match fixes to root causes.
Asphalt layers and pavement structureFatigue cracking and pothole evolutionRaveling, oxidation, and surface wearWater infiltration and stripping damageBase, subgrade, and drainage problemsLesson 2Tools, equipment, and materials checklist (inventory of hand tools, saws, jackhammers, rakes, vibratory plate/rammer/roller, tack coats, hot or cold asphalt mixes, backer/aggregate, safety equipment)This section lists and explains key tools, gear, and materials for pothole fixing, like cutting tools, compactors, tack sprayers, hot and cold mixes, stones, and safety kit, with advice on checking, storing, and preparing.
Hand tools for cutting and cleaningSaws, breakers, and coring equipmentCompaction plates, rammers, and rollersTack coats, mixes, and aggregate typesSafety gear and traffic control devicesLesson 3Compaction techniques and acceptance criteria (layers, target density, visual and simple tests)This section covers right compaction for asphalt patches, like layer thickness, passes, gear choice, target density, joint care, and easy field tests to confirm patch strength and cut future breaks.
Lift thickness and compaction sequenceSelecting rollers, plates, or rammersRolling patterns and number of passesChecking density with simple field testsVisual signs of under or over compactionLesson 4Step-by-step semi-permanent asphalt pothole repair: cutting and shaping, cleaning, drying, tack application, material selection, placement, compaction, edge finishingThis section gives detailed field steps for semi-permanent pothole fix, from marking area, cutting and shaping, cleaning and drying, tack coat, mix choice, layering, compacting, edge sealing, and final checks.
Marking and squaring patch boundariesCutting, trimming, and shaping the holeCleaning, drying, and moisture controlTack coat type, rate, and applicationMix placement, lift thickness, and levelingLesson 5Selection of repair strategy: temporary vs permanent, throw-and-roll, semi-permanent, full-depth patching—criteria for choiceThis section compares quick and lasting pothole fixes, like throw-and-roll, semi-permanent, and full-depth patches, and how road state, traffic, weather, and resources guide picking the best way.
When to use temporary emergency patchesCriteria for semi-permanent patch selectionWhen full-depth patching is requiredTraffic level and safety considerationsBudget, crew, and equipment constraintsLesson 6Effect of weather and traffic on method selection and timing (temperature limits for hot mix, rain mitigation, curing time, night vs day work)This section looks at how heat, wet, and traffic affect fix timing and choice, like hot-mix temp limits, rain and freeze risks, curing time, lane close windows, and night versus day jobs.
Temperature limits for hot and cold mixesRain, snow, and surface moisture risksCuring time before opening to trafficNight versus daytime work trade-offsSeasonal planning for patch programsLesson 7Maintenance recordkeeping for patch performance (date, mix, crew, weather, observed defects on follow-up inspections)This section shows how to log patch work for tracking over time, with dates, spots, materials, teams, weather, and check-ups, helping agencies improve ways and back budgets.
Standard patch report form fieldsDocumenting mix type and sourceRecording crew, equipment, and hoursWeather and site condition recordsScheduling and logging follow-up visits
