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A pothole is a depression in a roadway that can range from a few inches wide and a few inches deep, to several feet wide and sometimes a foot deep. Potholes jar the tires of cars driving over them sometimes causing handling and suspension problems.
Since potholes form in both gravel and paved roads it is not a simple matter of rain washing the material away, and since rain falls equally on all the road the wearing effect should be equal over the whole surface. Another consideration is that potholes seem to appear in the spring. Furthermore, potholes can form in cold climates as well as hot climates only for different reasons. Potholes seem to be the result of several factors depending on where you live.
In colder climates:
- The freezing and thawing of the road surface lifts the road material up making cracks in the surface.
- These cracks formed to fill with water which freezes and expands the cracks wider.
- The thawing water washes the broken material out of the cracks
- Cars traveling the road hit the small cracks vibrating even more material loose from the area.
- As the holes continue to grow the bumping gets more severe, breaking more of the surface loose.
- As these breaks get wider the asphalt is able to rock loose leaving the pothole behind.
In warmer climates:
- Over time as the sun heats up the asphalt it will start to dry out the oil and binders which hold the asphalt in place.
- Once the asphalt reaches a critical point of dryness it becomes less able to absorb shock from the cars traveling on the road or parking lot.
- Eventually the asphalt will form fine cracks, typically found in the drive path areas of roads and parking lots.
- When winter rains come these cracks fill with water and begin to widen.
- Once the cracks are large enough the asphalt will pop out do to vibrations from vehicular traffic.
In either climate the pothole process is initiated by small breaks in the surface. Some are caused by freeze/thaw cycles and others are caused by asphalt drying out due to long term sun exposure. The potholes continue to form from exposure to rain and traffic. After time the original material becomes loosened and eventually fails completely. Leaving behind the pothole.
The next question is why do potholes appear in the same places year after year. This results from the repair of potholes with cold pack asphalt. If the material is not installed properly (bonded in palace with tar and tamped and rolled into place) it is easier to break up than the rest of the road surface, Sort of like the problems with a poorly filled dental cavity. As a result the new pothole forms where the surface is weakest, the site of the poor repair.
On gravel roads potholes often result from another cause, the natural frequency of the tire and shock absorber system of car. These potholes can be either individual depressions or ridges that run normal to the flow of traffic. This latter condition is more commonly known as a washboard road. In this case some minor irregularity of the road causes a car tire to bump up. When it comes down it impacts the clay and gravel compacting it slightly. This forms a depression which causes another compression and release of the suspension. The period of the movement is due to the natural frequency of the system. Eventually this causes a series of depressions each time the tires rise and fall.
On the lighter side:
It is caused by marijuana smokers throwing their roaches out the windows. That causes pot holes.
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What kind of weathering creates potholes?
Potholes are mechanical weathering
Freezing and thawing cycle that causes potholes in roads and breaks in rocks?
Freeze/thaw cycle doesn't create potholes. It creates cracks on pavement. Potholes form when water, whether from melting snow, rain or frost thawing gets into the cracks in the pavement and cause the road base to shift and develop voids just under the pavement. When this occurs, the weight of vehicles causes the pavement to crumble causing potholes.
Why are streets and highways damaged so much more in the winter months than the summer months?
When snow thaws, the water seeps into any cracks in the surface. Then when the road freezes again the expanding ice makes the cracks larger. Repeat the cycle a few times and you will have potholes.
How are potholes formed in roads?
Potholes are caused by vibration from traffic, and also by movement of the ground under the road. In cold weather, the water in the ground freezes and thaws - this makes the ground expand and contract, and makes cracks in the road. Traffic running over the cracks breaks them open further and creates a pothole.
What is the difference between a pothole and sinkhole?
A pothole is a hole in a street caused by traffic and weather. It is caused by events above the street. A sinkhole is caused when land beneath the street is washed away or water empties out of a cave from beneath a street. In that case, the street falls down into the hole created when the road collapses when the ground gives way. Potholes are far easier to fix than sinkholes. Potholes need to be filled in and they are ready to be driven over. With sinkholes, the underlying problem must be filled in or the road must be rerouted. After the sinkhole is filled in or the road rerouted then the road must be rebuilt.
Can abrasion cause potholes in the road?
Yes, it is possible.
Does comprehensive insurance cover damages caused by potholes on the road?
It may and My policy does
At the end of each winter roads are usually filled with cracks and potholes Why do you think this happens after cold winter rather than a hot summer?
In the winter the roads crack because the cold causes the concrete to contract, therefore making cracks and potholes in the road. This will not happen in the summer because the heat makes the concrete expand.
What does salt do to the ice on the road?
It eats into the road surface causing potholes. It lowers the freezing temperature of the ice and melts it away. See the related link for more information..
How do you use joggled in a sentence?
The road hadn't been paved in years, and the numerous potholes joggled the car. The word joggled is a verb.
When was Potholes in My Lawn created?
Potholes in My Lawn was created in 1988.
What kind of weathering creates potholes?
Potholes are mechanical weathering
Freezing and thawing cycle that causes potholes in roads and breaks in rocks?
Freeze/thaw cycle doesn't create potholes. It creates cracks on pavement. Potholes form when water, whether from melting snow, rain or frost thawing gets into the cracks in the pavement and cause the road base to shift and develop voids just under the pavement. When this occurs, the weight of vehicles causes the pavement to crumble causing potholes.
When the road gets rough with potholes bumps mud clumps and loose sand or gravel you should do what to retain control of your vehicle?
slow down
32 men worjed fixing potholes in the road in one day they each fixed 358 holes how many did they fix altogether?
588
How many accidents are caused by potholes every year?
about 100,000 are caused yearly by potholes
What is the distance from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio?
From Ocho Rios to Port Antonio is 108 kilometers of potholes, slow lorries, one lane bridges and road construction delays. It's an adventure that will consume most of an afternoon. Follow the route taxis, they know where all the big potholes are.
