Lesson 1Overview of asphalt pavement behavior and pothole formation mechanisms (fatigue, raveling, water infiltration)This section reviews asphalt pavement structure and how traffic, aging, and water lead to potholes, covering fatigue cracking, raveling, stripping, base failures, and drainage issues so crews can match repair methods to underlying distress 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 essential tools, equipment, and materials for pothole repair, including cutting tools, compaction devices, tack sprayers, hot and cold mixes, aggregates, and safety gear, with tips for inspection, storage, and readiness.
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 proper compaction practices for asphalt patches, including lift thickness, number of passes, equipment choice, target density, joint treatment, and simple field checks that help verify patch stability and minimize future failures.
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 presents a detailed field procedure for semi‑permanent pothole repair, covering area marking, cutting and shaping, cleaning and drying, tack coat application, mix selection, placement in lifts, compaction, edge sealing, and final surface 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 temporary and permanent pothole repair options, including throw‑and‑roll, semi‑permanent, and full‑depth patching, and explains how pavement condition, traffic, climate, and resources guide the selection of the best method.
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 examines how temperature, moisture, and traffic loading affect repair timing and method choice, including hot‑mix temperature limits, rain and freeze–thaw risks, curing needs, lane closure windows, and night versus daytime operations.
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 explains how to record patching work so performance can be tracked over time, including dates, locations, materials, crews, weather, and follow‑up inspections, enabling agencies to refine methods and justify maintenance budgets.
Standard patch report form fieldsDocumenting mix type and sourceRecording crew, equipment, and hoursWeather and site condition recordsScheduling and logging follow-up visits
