The requirements for cutting machines vary greatly depending on the type of pavement material. Throughout my career, I have dealt with everything from the softest modified asphalt to the hardest reinforced concrete, each material requiring a specific technical solution. Today, I would like to share these valuable experiences gained from countless engineering cases.
The cutting of asphalt pavements requires a balance between speed and cooling. In the renovation of the main roads in Dubai, we were faced with asphalt concrete that contained polymer modifiers. This material is prone to sticking to the blade during cutting, causing the blade to overheat. I developed a dual-waterway cooling system: one for cooling the blade and the other for flushing the cut seam. I chose segmented diamond blades for the blade, which can be replaced independently, reducing maintenance costs by 40% compared to a single-piece blade. I controlled the cutting speed at 1.5-2 meters per minute, ensuring efficiency while achieving a smooth cut surface.
For the cutting of ordinary concrete, the focus is on blade selection. In the municipal engineering projects in South Korea, the concrete strength typically ranges from C30 to C40. I used high-concentration diamond blades with a particle size of 40/50 mesh. The blade rotation speed was maintained at 3000 revolutions per minute, and the feed speed was 1 meter per minute. I particularly strengthened the dust removal system because concrete cutting generates a large amount of silica dust, which is highly harmful to the operator's health. My wet dust removal system can capture 98% of the dust, far exceeding the industry standard of 85%.
Reinforced concrete is the greatest challenge. In the cutting of bridge joints in Australia, we encountered C50 concrete with double-layer steel mesh. Ordinary blades have a lifespan of no more than 50 meters under such conditions. I customized ultra-hard diamond blades with a diamond concentration of 40 and a binder hardness of HRC45. At the same time, I adjusted the cutting parameters: the rotational speed was reduced to 2500 revolutions per minute, and the feed speed was reduced to 0.8 meters per minute. Although the speed was slower, the blade lifespan was extended to 200 meters, and the overall cost was reduced by 30%.
Old pavement repair requires special treatment. In the historical districts of Italy, we needed to cut old road surfaces that were 50 years old. This pavement material is uneven and may have cavities inside. I adopted a progressive cutting method: I made a shallow cut first, confirmed the road condition, and then gradually deepened. I chose a blade with better elasticity, which can reduce impact damage when encountering cavities. This project made me realize that treating old pavements requires the same level of precision as a surgical operation.
Special materials require customized solutions. In the port engineering project in Norway, we encountered steel fiber concrete. The steel fibers would wrap around the blade, causing the equipment to stop. I developed a blade guard against缠绕 and added a Teflon coating to the blade surface， reducing the attachment of fibers. In Saudi Arabia， we cut noise-reducing asphalt that contained rubber particles. This material is highly elastic and tends to rebound during cutting. I adjusted the blade angle and increased the cutting pressure， successfully solving the problem.
Material science is constantly advancing， and my cutting technology is also evolving continuously. I have established a material database that includes cutting parameters for 300+ pavement materials worldwide. Each new project enriches this database， allowing me to provide more precise technical solutions for the next project. True professionalism is not knowing the cutting method for one material， but mastering the cutting logic for all materials from soft to hard.
