Uses worldwide

The advantages of Stone Mastic Asphalt have led to worldwide recognition - SMA is being used on every continent. This provides practical experience specific to each country in which SMA is used. This experience allows for specially created SMA formulas which are based on the local conditions.

We have here a few examples from various countries. We have also cited the valid technical specifications for the location.

In the previous section, the existing technical regulations and conditions for Germany are described as well as the experience thus gained on more than 200 million square meters of wearing courses made of Stone Mastic Asphalt.

An exact application of this experience as well as the underlying regulations, is just not possible.

A variety of criteria must be considered such as:

• Climatic differences:
  higher and/or lower temperatures
  greater or smaller temperature differences (summer / winter; day / night)
  
  
• Other types and designs of building materials:
  quality of the aggregate available, especially the stone hardness, classification of the particle size range, particle shape and particle purity
  quality of available bitumen; viscosity, aging behavior, homogeneity,
  possibility for improvement of inadequate binder qualities, e.g. through the use of additives (polymers among others)
  
  
• Other production plants:
  asphalt mixing plants: mixer types, dosing plants for mineral aggregate and binder, scale precision, admixture equipment for additives (cellulose fiber, VIATOP)

• Other paving conditions:
  type and quality of paver with regard to pre-compacting, work progress, paving widths, possibility for the use of several, staggered pavers for paving of the total width of the lane to avoid longitudinal seams.

• Type of compaction equipment:
  roller types
  static compaction (mainly), number and operating weight of the static rollers used.
  dynamic compaction, caution when using vibration (danger of mortar build-up on the wearing course surface), here special care and a great deal of experience is required.
  compaction with pneumatic rollers should be avoided with Stone Mastic Asphalt.

The factors mentioned above and other factors make a direct transfer of the available German experience and knowledge to other countries and especially other continents.
That is why an attempt has been made here to work out recommendations for different regions and to differentiate between the various prevailing conditions.

• Central Europe: Here the conditions are mainly similar to those in Germany, however Scandinavia and Southern Europe have their own differing conditions to consider.

• Southeast Asia: Define conditions / relationships in Korea and describe corresponding special features. China as the most populated country on Earth with very different climatic and topographic conditions, is undergoing enormous developmental activity and requires special consideration.
• USA / Canada: Here there are special questions about the aggregate availability and quality which must be observed (Up to now high quality chippings were imported in part from Ireland)
• South America
• Oceania (Australia; New Zealand as special target areas)