Glass fibre reinforcing grid prevents cracking and extends life of pavements and highways
Fibertex Nonwovens has supplied a durable glass fibre reinforcing grid – Glassmac PSA – for use in a recent highway rehabilitation project in the Free State province.
Glassmac PSA is a polymer modified bitumen-coated self-adhesive glass fibre grid, developed by Fibertex Nonwovens to reinforce existing road surfaces, in order to prevent reflective cracking. This durable material is also used in new road construction to prevent differential settlement and to reinforce surfacing layers. The high modulus of elasticity of glass also enables a significant reduction in the thickness of the bituminous layers necessary for a given traffic loading.
“Glassmac PSA provides a robust reinforcement system that helps roads withstand high traffic loads and delays the onset of cracking,” explains Brian Potgieter, Technical Sales Engineer, Fibertex Nonwovens South Africa. “This reinforcement grid not only reduces maintenance cycles, but also delivers measurable cost savings across the lifecycle of a pavement.
“The Glassmac PSA grid is traditionally placed on a clean, milled asphalt surface and bonded under pressure from a pneumatic roller. The apertures of the glass geogrid allow the asphalt layer placed above it to bond to the layer below, creating a uniform reinforced composite road section. This process limits reflective and thermal cracking, distributes load stresses and improves overall durability of the structure.
“An important feature of this system is that it has a self-adhesive backing for simplified application – without the need for nails or staples – which proves convenient and resilient, despite heavy traffic volumes.
“Beyond initial cost savings, this reinforcement system supports long-term asset management by delaying the onset of reflective cracking and extending overlay life cycles. Studies show that overlays incorporating glass fibre grids generally require major intervention two to three rehabilitation cycles later than conventional overlays. For road authorities, this reduces the frequency of maintenance closures, minimises disruption to traffic and provides measurable improvements in cost performance.”
Glassmac PSA is available from Fibertex in grades from 50 to 200 kN/m, with corresponding overlay thicknesses from 35 to 40 mm. The high modulus of elasticity of the glass fibres allows designers to reduce asphalt thickness without compromising structural performance. This reduction in material use translates into immediate cost savings on aggregate and bitumen, also lowering transport and handling demands during construction.
In addition to reducing the direct costs of road works, the ability to mill and recycle pavements containing Glassmac PSA further reduces waste and aligns with the global trend towards sustainable infrastructure practices.
Glassmac PSA is set to play a significant role in road rehabilitation and new construction projects throughout Africa, supporting the drive to achieving longer-lasting, cost-efficient pavements. Advantages include strong bonding between asphalt layers, resistance to damage during compaction and uncomplicated cutting and milling with standard equipment. Glassmac PSA is also compatible with reclaimed asphalt pavement processes, ensuring that rehabilitation conforms with modern recycling practices.
Fibertex Nonwovens South Africa supplies a wide range of nonwoven geosynthetics and reinforcement solutions for civil engineering, construction and infrastructure projects. The team of specialists, which offers a dependable technical advisory and support service, provides cost-effective solutions to design engineers and contractors, for innovative, efficient and safe use of all Fibertex materials.
