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Road or pavement surfaces made from rigid material such as concrete, have cracks provided to allow for thermal expansion, and differential movement.
In other words tree roots and the earth's crust move around where ever they want to if one of the squares that is separated by cracks is damaged and cracks all we have to do is replace that one square instead of the whole sidewalk... its kind of like the square carpet idea... if you spill some thing on one square of the carpet you only need to replace that square instead of the whole room of carpet
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoExamples: exaggerated pressure from vehicles, cycles of freezing/melting, corrosion from sodium chloride, initial defects, inadequate composition, thermal expansion, abrasive and erosive effects.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoBecause of a thing called Expansion. In the summer things expand cause they get hotter~!
Wiki User
∙ 13y agobecause if we step the road the road will crack.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThis is to allow for expansion without cracking the slab.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoso you don' fall through them lol
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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.
What causes the road surface to crack during winter?
Road surface cracks on winter because, water in the ground forms ice during winter, expanding to form cracks.
How does ice wedging relates to potholes?
Water gets into cracks in the road surface. When it freezes and becomes ice, it expands. Asphalt is just oil, sand, and stone... chunks of it will eventually be pulled apart.
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.
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.
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.
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 causes large cracks on the street during the winter months?
sidewalks crack in the winter because the frost gets into tiny cracks in the sidewalk and as they expand, they cause the cracks to get bigger.
What form of energy do you think causes cracks in road?
mechanical energy
What causes the road surface to crack during winter?
Road surface cracks on winter because, water in the ground forms ice during winter, expanding to form cracks.
How does ice wedging relates to potholes?
Water gets into cracks in the road surface. When it freezes and becomes ice, it expands. Asphalt is just oil, sand, and stone... chunks of it will eventually be pulled apart.
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.
Can abrasion cause potholes in the road?
Yes, it is possible.
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.
What often causes potholes in streets?
ice wedging
What causes potholes to form in streets and roadway?
They are called potholes because a pot (cookware) has a big dent in it used for filling much like potholes in out roads. They are called potholes because a pot (cookware) has a big dent in it used for filling much like potholes in out roads.
What makes potholes in the road?
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 cracksCars 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.
