What happens if a roller travels too fast during compaction?

• A. The mat will ride choppily
• B. The mat will become perfectly flat
• C. The mat will become rough
• D. There is no effect

Answer: (A)

Faster rolling shortens the time the drum spends pressing each area, so the asphalt doesn’t get a chance to flow and smooth out evenly. When the roller moves too quickly, the drum can skim over the surface and even bounce as it encounters high spots, causing the mat to ride on top and produce a choppy, uneven ride. Proper compaction relies on enough contact time and energy transfer to squash peaks and fill valleys, so reducing speed helps the mat become smoother and more uniform.