VIVA-Tech International Journal for Research and Innovation Volume 1, Issue 4 (2021)

ISSN(Online): 2581-7280
VIVA Institute of Technology
9th National Conference on Role of Engineers in Nation Building – 2021 (NCRENB-2021)

Study on Repairing of Potholes

Purva P. Awari1, Arathy Menon2
1
(Civil Engineering Department, University of Mumbai, India)
2
(Civil Engineering Department, University of Mumbai, India)

Abstract : After the onset of monsoons, development of potholes on roads and streets of India is a common
phenomenon. Quite often, potholes are repaired with antiquated techniques such as placing soil or bare aggregate
in the pothole because no hot mix asphalt is available during monsoons. But techniques are not reliable these
days because they require large amount of time and the quality of repairing is also not up to the mark. Traditional
pothole filling techniques take a lot of manpower and a lot of heavy machinery, which is an expensive process.
Due to non-repairing of potholes on time many of accidents and traffic congestion takes place every year. In 2016,
nearly 1,50,000 deaths were caused by road accidents in India. Out of these, 2,424 deaths in road accidents were
caused by potholes. Apart from deaths, they cause several accidents leading to major and minor injuries, and
delay in travel time Pothole is a failure in an asphalt pavement when there is water present in the underlying soil
which weakens the supporting soil, and then traffic around affected area fatigues and breaks the asphalt surface.
Failure in pavements takes place because of shearing, loading and deflection of materials. Which is the result of
the action of traffic, poor support, and adverse atmospheric condition. In this paper different methods which are
used for repairing potholes are described and best suitable method is selected based on the costing and quality
parameters.
Keywords – Asphalt, Pothole, Pavement, Shearing, Traffic.

I. INTRODUCTION
A hole in a road surface that result from gradual damage caused by traffic or weather. A pothole is a hole
in the roadway pavement that vary in size and shape. A deep natural underground cave formed by the erosion of
rock, especially by the action of water or a depression or hollow in a road surface caused by wear or subsidence.
Introduction to potholes in India is very common due to poor drainage system & poor quality of materials been
used to repair it. The structural failure in pavement is mainly because of water below the structure of roads. Once
the crack is developed water may enter it and deteriorate the materials of pavement. Quite often, potholes are
repaired with antiquated techniques such as placing soil or bare aggregate, bitumen in the pothole because no hot
mix asphalt is available during monsoons. Nowadays, the most common method is the pothole filling truck. This
truck is equipped with a roller at its rear end and a hole in its base, which supplies the asphalt-aggregate mixture
for filling the pothole.

Fig no.1:- Potholes on Indian road

Potholes are surrounded by cracks; these cracks are called crocodile cracks. This is the initial stage of
asphalt pavement failure. These cracks, when subjected to heavy loads, tear apart and create a small hole. This

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VIVA-Tech International Journal for Research and Innovation Volume 1, Issue 4 (2021)
ISSN(Online): 2581-7280
VIVA Institute of Technology
9th National Conference on Role of Engineers in Nation Building – 2021 (NCRENB-2021)

hole becomes larger and larger with heavy traffic and stops growing until the whole water-weakened region is
turned into a pothole.

Fig no. 2:- Crocodile crack

II. POTHOLES
Development of potholes on Indian roads and streets after the onset of monsoons is a common
phenomenon. Every year there is a public outcry and newspapers are full of pictures showing potholed road
pavements. Hot mix asphalt plants are usually shut down during monsoons and no hot bituminous mix is available
for filling potholes. Therefore, many potholes are either not repaired or repaired with antiquated techniques. The
unprecedented development of potholes during the 2009/2010 summer rainfall season on particularly the Indian
provincial and metropolitan roads with bituminous surfacing led to widespread concern among road users and
significant media reporting.
III. EFFECT OF POTHOLES
These are the serious effects of potholes , the accident rate are increased , the appearance of road is also
affected, speed of vehicle will decrease so the travel time will increase, so it is need to repair this potholes and for
that government is wasting so much money for it but it needs proper method to be repaired. The major cause of
road accidents in India are potholes which has claimed 3,597 lives in the year 2017 which is significant increase
from the year 2016 i.e., more than 50% increase in the number of deaths was reported in the Times of India article.
According to an article in Hindustan times, he Supreme Court Thursday expressed concern over 14,926
people being killed in road accidents due to potholes in last five years and termed it “unacceptable”. A bench
headed by Justice Madan B Lokur said the large number of deaths caused due to potholes across the country was
“probably more than those killed on border or by the terrorists”. The bench, also comprising justices Deepak
Gupta and Hemant Gupta, said the number of deaths from 2013 to 2017 in accidents due to potholes indicated
that the authorities concerned were not maintaining the roads. The most extensive types of damage that have been
caused by potholes on vehicles are alignment problems, damages to the under carriage, mufflers, shocks, axles,
tires, and rims. At low speeds, hitting a deep pothole can cause damage to tires, wheels and steering alignment
but the cost of repair probably would not justify an insurance claim. At higher speeds, can cause severe damage
and risks loss of control of the vehicle which could result in impact with other vehicles, the curb or roadside
objects.
IV. REPAIRING OF POTHOLES
Pothole repair operations can usually be divided into two distinct periods. The first period is winter
repairs, when temperatures are low, base material is frozen, and additional moisture and freeze-thaw cycles are
expected before the spring thaw. The second period is spring repairs, when base material is wet and soft, and few
additional freeze-thaw cycles are expected. Regardless of the climatic conditions, the potential safety and
rideability problems that could result from the unrepaired distress must be considered when deciding whether a
pothole should be patched. A highway agency must repair potentially hazardous potholes as soon as it becomes
aware of them. The decision to patch potholes is influenced by many factors: The level of traffic. The time until
scheduled rehabilitation or overlay. The availability of personnel, equipment, and materials.
The two main elements of quality pothole patching are material selection and repair procedures. For
every combination of these two factors, the cost-effectiveness of the overall patching operation will be affected
by material, labor, and equipment costs. The combinations of materials and procedures that will produce optimum
cost-effectiveness vary from agency to agency. There are generally two types of patch mixtures used for pothole
filling: hot and cold. Cold mixture is used when the traffic cannot be halted. It takes around 3 minutes for the cold
mixture to set. On the other hand, hot mixture requires some time to set. Use of hot or cold mixture depends upon

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VIVA-Tech International Journal for Research and Innovation Volume 1, Issue 4 (2021)
ISSN(Online): 2581-7280
VIVA Institute of Technology
9th National Conference on Role of Engineers in Nation Building – 2021 (NCRENB-2021)

the cost and the level of traffic. Hot mixture is cheaper in cost than the cold mixture, and cold mixture provides a
ready-to-go, durable, and effective repair than the hot mixture.
V. MATERIALS
Most agencies have three types of cold mixes available to them. The first of these is cold mix produced by a local
asphalt plant, using the available aggregate and binder, usually without an opportunity to consider compatibility
or expected performance. The second type is cold mix produced according to specifications set by the agency that
will use the mix. The specifications normally include the acceptable types of aggregate and asphalt, as well as
acceptance criteria for the agency to purchase the material. The third type is proprietary cold mix. A local asphalt
plant generally produces this material using specially formulated binders. These binders are produced by
companies that test the local aggregate, design the mixes, and monitor production to ensure the quality of the
product.
VI. REPAIR TECHNIQUES
Many maintenance agencies use the throw-and-go method for repairing potholes. Although not considered the
best way to patch potholes, it is the most commonly used method because of its high rate of production.

6.1 Throw and Roll

Throw-and-roll method is one of the oldest and simplest pothole repairing method. It is a temporary
repair and done where the conditions are unfavourable: wintry or watery conditions. It can be performed on wet
potholes but has a better repairing effect when done on dry potholes. It is used very commonly in India because
of its speed and simplicity. Hot or cold patch material is placed in the pothole, and then the patch is compacted
with a roller. Throw-and-roll method is cost effective and quick but it doesn’t provide a longlasting repair.
One difference between this method and the traditional throwand-go method is that some effort is made to
compact the patches. Compaction provides a tighter patch for traffic than simply leaving loose material. The
extra time to compact the patches (generally 1 to 2 additional minutes per patch) will not significantly affect
productivity. This is especially true if the areas to be patched are separated by long distances and most of the
time is spent traveling between potholes.

Fig. no.03:- Throw and roll

6.2 Spray Injection Repair method
Spray-injection repair is a semi-permanent repair. It uses a spray gun to fill potholes. It is one of the best
methods to repair a pothole. This procedure includes the following steps: 1. Remove water and debris from the
pothole. 2. Square-up the sides of the patch area until vertical sides exist in reasonably sound pavement. 3. Place
the mix. 4. Compact with a device smaller than the patch area. (Single-drum vibratory rollers and vibratory plate
compactors work best.) 5. Open the repaired section to traffic as soon as maintenance workers and equipment
are cleared from the area. This repair procedure provides a sound area for patches to be compacted against and
results in very tightly compacted patches. However, it requires more workers and equipment and has a lower
productivity rate than either the throw-and-roll or the spray-injection procedure.

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VIVA-Tech International Journal for Research and Innovation Volume 1, Issue 4 (2021)
ISSN(Online): 2581-7280
VIVA Institute of Technology
9th National Conference on Role of Engineers in Nation Building – 2021 (NCRENB-2021)

Fig. no.04:- Spray Injection

6.3 Edge Seal

The edge seal method consists of the following steps: 1. Place the material into a pothole (which may or may
not be filled with water or debris). 2. Compact the patch using truck tires. 3. Verify that the compacted patch
has some crown (between 3 and 6 mm). 4. Move on to the next pothole. 5. Once the repaired section has dried,
place a ribbon of asphaltic tack material on top of the patch edge (tack material should be placed on both patch
and pavement surfaces). 6. Place a layer of sand on the tack material to prevent tracking by vehicle tires. 7. Open
the repaired section to traffic as soon as maintenance workers and equipment are cleared from the area. This
procedure may require a second visit to the repaired section by the crew to allow water to dry before placing the
tack. Although this does reduce the productivity of the procedure, the placement of the tack material prevents
water from getting through the edge of the patch and can glue together pieces of the surrounding pavement,
improving support for the patch.

Fig no.05:- Edge Seal method

VII. MODERN ADVANCEMENT

Nowadays many advancements are found both in materials & methods for repairing of potholes. Earlier only
some of the limited materials were used like sand, bitumen, asphalt etc. for filling of potholes, but now
geosynthetics are also finding a way in repairing materials. Geosynthetic is basically used as sheet for the repair
with non-netwonain fluid inside sheet. As of for methods or equipments modified pothole filler truck is used for
better filling of potholes.

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VIVA-Tech International Journal for Research and Innovation Volume 1, Issue 4 (2021)
ISSN(Online): 2581-7280
VIVA Institute of Technology
9th National Conference on Role of Engineers in Nation Building – 2021 (NCRENB-2021)

7.1 Use of Non-Newtonian fluid to fill Potholes

A system and technique to fill cracks and voids; potholes caused thanks to deterioration of roads.
This technique employs filling the chuckhole by putting a versatile instrumentality, principally a
bag that is filled by a strategy is Non-Newtonian fluid that has shear thickening properties. the
economical, comparatively less heavy than typical strategies of repairing potholes. it's conjointly
environment friendly because the fluid is organic. the target is to produce a superior and mobile
answer to an extended standing and infrequently unheeded downside of potholes.

7.1.1 “Application of Non-Newtonian Fluid to Fix Potholes”, Mitali Kandalgaonkar,Ruturaj

Mane (ICGTI) March 2017:- From test perform it can be concluded that Cornstarch + water (2:1)can
be used to fix potholes. This method can be used where hot mix method is inefficient especially
during monsoon season. The life span of the material is 30-40 days. Hence it is a temporary method
to fix pothole. With further study and research the life span can be increased by adding admixtures
to the material. According to gazette published by ministry of road transport government of India
the maximum axial load permitted on Indian roads is 35.7 tons. Hence this method can be used for
all vehicle loading conditions.

7.1.2 “Use of Non-Newtonian Fluid To fill Potholes” Deepak Vishwakarma, Rahul Yadav, Sameer Mehdi
(International Journal Of Research In Science And Engineering) 3rd March 2017:- In most cases
non-Newtonian characteristics square measure ascertained within the therefore known as structured
fluids, however there's an on the spot link between the kind and extent of non-Newtonian fluid
behavior and therefore the influence of the outwardly applied stress on the state of the structure.
Therefore, the activity of non-Newtonian characteristics is often accustomed ascertain the state of
structure in a very fluid. Conversely, one will engineer the structure of a sub-stance to impart the
required rheologic properties to a product. However, before examining the role of structure, it's
helpful to review 2 key assumptions inherent the thought of shear or elongation or complicated
viscousness.

7.2 Modified Pothole Filler Truck

On Indian roads, conventional pothole filler trucks can be made efficient by making few
modifications in the trucks. Apart from a hole in its base and a roller at its rear, two mixer blades
are added and can provide a good quality mixture of asphalt and aggregate. Pothole filling truck
works on the throw-and-roll method. The only difference: manual throwing of patch material is
replaced by filling the pothole with a truck directly, by the hole provided in its base. It can also be
automated by using ultrasonic sensors to detect the irregularities on the surface of the road, and of
those irregular surfaces, the ones with high difference with mean level of the road can be detected
and filled automatically. The quantity of the patch material can also be governed with the help of
sensors.

Fig.no.06:- Modified Pothole filler truck

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VIVA-Tech International Journal for Research and Innovation Volume 1, Issue 4 (2021)
ISSN(Online): 2581-7280
VIVA Institute of Technology
9th National Conference on Role of Engineers in Nation Building – 2021 (NCRENB-2021)

VIII. COMPARISON
THROW & ROLL SPRAY INJECTION EDGE SEAL
It is most basic method of It is similar to semi-permanent It is involves using throw &
filling conventional pothole by one but requires special repair and then filling
placing materials in pothole and equipment. potholes. Further it is
driving heavy truck over it. compacted by heavy duty
truck.
It provides temporary pothole In this method water needs to In this method after
relief. be blown out first and then compaction asphalt ribbon is
spray injection is used to apply placed along the edge so it
asphalt and aggregate to it. overlaps patch and pavement.
It has high failure rate and only Once the solution is applied no It can be open to traffic as
used in case of absence of other need to compact the materials. soon as it is done and
choices. equipments are cleared.

IX. SUMMARY
In India, the method which is using to repair the potholes does not give durability, because, the portion which
is repaired gets seepage through the base and top surface gets water entry from sources like rain, ice. Which
will again damage the work and bonding would reduce thus durability will reduce and again we have to apply
same method to repair it. The application of geo sheet in potholes repairing work gives durability to the work.
After applying it, the seepage through base will reduce which will improve the durability of repaired pothole.
Same as for epoxy it gives well resistant for water entry from the top surface. Modified pothole filling trucks
are better than ordinary pothole filling trucks when they are compared, in reference to Indian conditions. They
can work well for both hot and cold mixtures. A better-quality mixture of emulsified asphalt and aggregate
from the modified pothole filling truck will result in cost-effective yet stronger repairing material for the
pothole filling.

REFERENCES
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Ohio,(ScienceMag) U.S.A.(Published 12th March 2012) volume : 5 Issue : 1.
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Journal Of Research In Science And Engineering(IJRISE) 3rd March 2017. Volume : 2 Issue : 3
[3] N.Naveen ,S Mallesh Yadav, “ A study on potholes and its effect on vehicular traffics” ,IJCRT 2018 . Volume : 6 Issue : 1
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[7] Ransome J Wyman “Roadway Repair and Maintenance” Palmas, Laguna Niguela Ca (Us) 92677 In April 2009.
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[9] [Chhabra, R.P. (2006). Bubbles, Drops, and Particles in Non-Newtonian Fluids (2nd ed.). Hoboken: Taylor & Francis Ltd. pp. 9–
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[10] Journal of Pothole Identification, Assessment and Repair Guidelines, Clifton associates ltd, August 2012.
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