The experts of the FAA "ROSDORNIA" conducted a training webinar on the practice of implementing the technology of volumetric and functional design of asphalt concrete mixtures.
We decided to devote the next online seminar of the scientific institute dedicated to the transition to new rails to the more practical side of the issue. This is not the first time experts have told Russian road builders about the technology of volumetric and functional design (OFP). The audience of webinars is already familiar with the history of the origin, production details and advantages of such mixtures. This time it was directly about the stages of implementation, the interaction of customers and contractors and, finally, how to systematically and painlessly transfer the regional road industry to the principles of OFP. Representatives of the subjects, who were among the first to decide on this difficult but necessary step, also shared their experience.
Recall that a series of webinars is held within the framework of the System of advanced training of road workers under the auspices of the national project "Safe and high-quality Highways". Online seminars are organized by the FAA ROSDORNII and the Russian University of Transport.
By tradition, the webinar began with an introductory speech by the Director of Organizational Activities of the CCCAlexey Kovrov. He reminded the audience that the transition to modern technology is inevitable.
"It has already become clear to everyone that in any case, they will have to abandon the old GOST standards and technologies in the coming years. And the Industry-wide Competence Center of the Road Industry (BCC) is directly involved in the process of re-equipment of the industry. Based on the requests we receive from the subjects now, we understand that in many regions the organization of the transition to new standards causes difficulties. How to overcome them, we will consider today," Alexey Kovrov announced the topic of the experts' speeches.
The first report was devoted directly to the work of the CC FAU "ROSDORNII". How is the joint work with the regions carried out in terms of the introduction of new technologies?Alexander Tikhonov, Deputy Head of the Department for the Development of Scientific and Technical Potential of the Road Industry. He, following the previous speaker, noted that the issue of transition to new the standards are really acute. And the launch of the National Project "BCAD" became a great help to accelerate this process. The Scientific Institute was given the functionality of an Industry-wide competence Center, which allows to assist in the country's transition to new technologies.
"There is traditionally a contradiction in the industry: there is a production part and a rule-making activity. There are times when, in matters of adapting new standards, road workers do not understand the idea of the authors of the law, and those, in turn, do not always see and understand the real state of things in production. It was necessary to create a link that would allow representatives of the road industry to interact in real time. It became the OCC. We help to adapt legislative initiatives in production. How the implementation process went, how regulatory documents work in practice, we bring to the Ministry of Transport," Alexander Tikhonov explained.
The head of the department said that the work is being carried out in 3 main areas. The Regional Development Support Department performs the most important function: its specialists they form strategies for the development of the road industry of the regions. Similar work has been carried out for the Magadan and Amur regions, it is planned to form strategies for the Jewish Autonomous Region and the Republic of Buryatia. The Innovation Implementation Coordination Department advises subjects on all acute problems of implementation, including directly on the ground, visiting BKAD production facilities during the construction season. The acceleration department will help fill the industry with innovations. Thus, BCC experts can provide gratuitous and qualified support at all stages of the introduction of new technologies.
In addition, customers and contractors can use the services of the Central Research Laboratory of the Scientific Institute free of charge, equipped for conducting a full range of tests using the OFP method and evaluating the bitumen binder according to PG characteristics. Mobile laboratory complexes have also been purchased in the branches of the FAA "ROSDORNIA".
Of course, another important measure of support for industry workers are such seminars like this one. Webinars and offline conferences on various topical topics are held on the basis of the Institute and on third-party platforms. Often the Deputy Director for Organizational Activities of the BCC acts as an expert at such eventsOlga Vorobyova. This time her report was devoted directly to how the region can switch to modern technologies. According to the speaker, the implementation is impossible without a strong-willed decision of the industry leaders in the region. Therefore, the first and most important step is the public announcement of the beginning of the program of transition to new standards.
"Half measures won't work. In 2023, let me remind you, the old GOST will cease to operate – there is no way back, if not now, then when? Moreover, the optimal effect of innovations will be achieved if the region decides to switch to new mixtures in full," Olga Vorobyova stressed.
As for the implementation program itself, the next step will be to assess the resource base of the region, namely the availability of the necessary materials that meet the new standards. All preparatory work should be carried out in advance so that by the beginning be fully prepared for the construction season. We are talking about the purchase of laboratory equipment, testing of mineral materials available in the region, the selection of asphalt concrete mixtures according to OFP, training of a pool of contractors.
In conclusion, Olga Vorobyova once again voiced the advantages of new asphalt concrete: they are much more durable and resistant to wear and rutting. The use of the OFP method radically changes the approach to road works. Firstly, when releasing asphalt concrete mix, it is necessary to focus not on GOST, as before, but on the approved recipe. In addition, the choice of bitumen is based on its PG characteristics. This is what makes it possible to take into account the operational and climatic features of the region.
It is the ability to take into account difficult climatic conditions that has become a determining factor for the transformation of the road industry in the Orenburg region. Dmitry Khusid, Director of the Main Department of Road Management of the region, shared his experience of switching to volumetric and functional design of asphalt concrete.
"We live in a sharply continental climate. We've always had one problem, it's the problem of bitumen. The Southern Urals is a fertile land from the point of view of rubble, we have no problems with them. What can not be said about bitumen. Plus a difficult climate. We live, as they say, from -40 to +40, a huge number of transitions through 0 degrees. We see the consequences on roads built according to the old GOST standards – in the form of cracks and plastic deformations," Dmitry Khusid said.
According to the speaker, as soon as it became clear that the OFP system makes it possible to design a mixture, given the difficult conditions of the region, it was decided to keep a course for new technologies. A bold step was taken in 2017. We started with the creation of a modern laboratory and training of personnel of the regional road administration. Contractors were also able to use the equipment to find the optimal recipe. Then we ordered a mobile laboratory with a gyrator for rapid sampling and express analyses right on the road. The Main Directorate of the Road Economy of the region understood that it was not enough to train only their own specialists, several hundred Orenburg road workers passed advanced training. In 2019 , work began on an experimental section of the Nizhny Pavlovka regional road – art. Kargala. The experience was positive, and after a year of operation, the coating remained unchanged. In 2020, 212 km of roads in the region were completed using the OFP method.
A number of important management decisions allowed the Orenburg Region to forget about outdated GOST standards once and for all. At the moment, all the objects of the BKAD in the subject have been repaired using the methodology of volumetric and functional design. Large contractors have already acquired their own laboratories, the problem with the availability of materials necessary for work in the region has been solved.
The last report of the seminar introduced the audience to the main aspects of the standardization system in the Russian Federation, the topic was revealed by the head of the Quality Monitoring DepartmentPavel Kriushin. He gave several recommendations on how to work correctly with the requirements of regulatory documentation in the context of concluding contracts between the contractor and the customer. The expert voiced an extremely common problem: documentation is compiled without specifying the most important data, which subsequently complicates the acceptance of work.
left;"> "Unfortunately, many customers do not bother with detailed elaboration of contracts, which often leads to controversial situations, scandals, sometimes courts. At the same time, competently drawing up a contract and loading the main provisions of regulatory documents there is not such a big problem. But this gives customers the necessary tool to control the quality of the work performed," Pavel Kriushin stressed.For example: 50% of the analyzed contracts do not involve coordination with the customer of the choice of materials, 21% do not oblige to conduct laboratory tests, 7% of the documents do not have any requirements for the quality of the materials used. The speaker recalled that a well-drafted contract allows you to protect the interests of the parties, make the acceptance procedure simple and transparent, and also minimizes cases of unfair work by contractors. The necessary recommendations for the preparation of documentation can be obtained by contacting the BCC.
The recording of the webinar on the topic of the transition of the road industry of the regions to new standards has been sent to all participants of the conference. The organizers also shared additional materials on subject matter. The next online seminar on new and best technologies will be devoted to the issue of cold regeneration of road surfaces and soil stabilization. The schedule of webinars can be viewed on the educational portal of the road economy.