Asphalt-based cold patches for repairing road potholes – An overview
DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124870
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Summary
This review paper addresses the challenges of repairing road potholes, a common form of pavement distress caused by water infiltration, traffic loads, and freeze-thaw cycles. The authors investigate the use of Cold Mix Patching Materials (CMPMs) as an alternative to conventional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). While HMA offers superior durability and performance, its application is hindered by low temperatures, high equipment costs, and long curing times, making it unsuitable for emergency repairs in adverse weather. CMPMs, conversely, provide immediate serviceability, ease of handling, and applicability in all weather conditions, though they typically suffer from shorter lifespans and lower quality. The study aims to provide a critical comparison of repair techniques, productivity, costs, and the key performance factors of CMPMs, including workability, bonding, water susceptibility, stability, and storageability. The paper synthesizes existing literature, standards, and survey data to evaluate pothole formation mechanisms, severity classifications, and maintenance strategies. It categorizes repair procedures into temporary (e.g., throw-and-roll, spray-injection), semi-permanent, and permanent methods, analyzing their respective productivity, labor requirements, and longevity. The authors examine various patching materials, distinguishing between hot-mixed, cold-mixed, and cement-based options, with a specific focus on proprietary cold mixes. Data from surveys of local authorities in the UK, USA, and Canada are utilized to assess material preferences and the survival periods of patches under different seasonal conditions. The review also highlights the lack of standardized design and evaluation criteria for CMPMs, which contributes to product heterogeneity and inconsistent performance. Key findings indicate that while HMA remains the preferred material for permanent repairs due to its high stability and bonding capabilities, CMPMs are essential for temporary fixes, particularly in winter. Productivity analyses reveal that spray-injection and throw-and-roll methods are more efficient than semi-permanent techniques in terms of tons per person-day and required time. However, the durability of CMPM patches is significantly influenced by material quality and application conditions; winter repairs often last only a few months, whereas summer repairs can exceed a year. High-quality proprietary cold mixes can achieve service lives comparable to HMA but at a higher initial cost. The study notes that poor workability, weak initial strength, and high air-void content are primary deficiencies of CMPMs. Furthermore, the environmental impact of CMPMs, particularly regarding packaging waste, remains poorly understood. The significance of this overview lies in its comprehensive assessment of the trade-offs between immediate repair needs and long-term pavement durability. It underscores the necessity of selecting appropriate repair methods based on weather conditions, traffic levels, and budget constraints. The authors conclude that while CMPMs offer critical logistical advantages for emergency maintenance, their limited lifespan necessitates frequent reapplication, which can offset initial cost savings. The paper highlights the need for standardized testing and improved material formulations to enhance the performance of cold patches, ultimately aiming to balance operational efficiency with sustainable pavement management practices.
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| Stage | Outcome | Tool | Model | Prompt | Attempts | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discover | success | Crossref | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-20 |
| archive | success | core_acuk | — | — | 3 | 2026-06-26 |
| extract | success | pdftotext | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-26 |
| clean | success | clean | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| chunk | success | chunk | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| embed | success | embed | Qwen/Qwen3-Embedding-8B | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| enrich | success | semantic_scholar | — | — | 4 | 2026-06-26 |
| promote | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-20 |
| summarize | success | llm | qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant | summ-v5 | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| tag | success | vector_similarity | — | — | 6 | 2026-06-26 |
| verify | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.
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