Cx to subject query: extra weight in the rollers_.So they’re trucks with rollers with water streamed on them. But laying down that blacktop, every extra lb helps. Are those rollers (I was watching a normal city job) extra-heavy, relative to a normal cab with the horsepower and dimensions most efficient to drive the rollers?
I could watch them all day. Very relaxing, repetive, methodical, advancing slowly row by row. Smooth leveling–a nice image/goal sometimes.
Compactors are not especially heavy for their size. however, modern ones seem to use vibration to help compact asphalt or other relatively loose surfaces:
and I think it’s funny we still call them “steamrollers” even though it’s been almost a century since they’ve been powered by steam engines 
Interesting on both points, and thanks for the cite.
It depends on what one thinks is the most interesting part of the job: squooshing or movin’ on down that line.
Plus “I’m a compactor, baby, a churnin’ urn of boilin’ funk” doesn’t sound as good.
Elvis live: Elvis Presley- Steamroller Blues - YouTube
I worked for a small paving company years ago. To add weight to the roller we used, the large wide steel wheel was filled with water. At the end of the job it was emptied. I always thought the name steam roller was from the steam venting from the water filled wheel, the water would get hot while rolling out the asphalt.
IANA Steamrollerologist. Most of the steam rollers I’ve ever seen are fairly minimal except for those giant wheels. I’m sure the weight helps, but their primary function seems to be smoothing as opposed to compacting.
they do both; the aggregate used in asphalt tends to be sharp-sided pebbles as opposed to concrete which uses sand and smooth/roundish pebbles. Compacting helps the aggregate “settle in” and minimizes gaps.
here is a picture of a proper steam roller
The green cabin on wheels would have been towed to the job at the start and used as accommodation for the driver.
What’s shown there is not a steamroller - it has wheels at the front, not a solid roller. You’re right otherwise of course. The engine might be used for road haulage, but even more likely it was to be driven around as a transportable power plant for a threshing machine, power saw, or similar seasonally-employed machinery.
My 2 year old son calls them ‘Road rollers’ not sure if I taught him that while at our local transport museum, or I should give credit to The Fat Controller or Bob the Builder…
Go down, just one pic.
(Maybe you get straight to the image only? I get redirected to Stoke Row Steam Rally 3 June 2006 )
Yeah, I got redirected - that may be the problem.
I know that’s what they used to look like. One big front roller wheel and two narrower rear wheels that aligned on the sides. Mostly what we see on the roads around here are the ones with one very wide roller wheel in front, and another in the back, and usually not much in-between.
That’s a traction engine.
This is a steam roller:
They’ve been working on the 4 lane road in front of my store all summer (and part of last summer). The steam roller is the worst part for us. It vibrates so hard it feels like it’s going to crack the building.
They also use, what I’ve found, is called an asphalt pneumatic roller. It has 5 large flat* (maybe solid) tires on the front and back. I have no idea what exact it does though.
*Well, that one does, I can’t remember the brand they’re using but it looks the same. The only difference is that they have a canvas ‘skirt’ wrapped around the bottom so you really can’t see the wheels. Kinda like this.
My husband is a supervisor for the street division in our town and there are several answers to your question- the asphalt coming out of paver is 300+degrees and as the paver spreads it out its a static density of about 80 to 85% - then the roller (and this is depending on what size they have) the one my husbands crew uses is 40,000 pds
Drives back and forth over it but what most people don’t know is that while yes the roller is heavy - it’s the vibration along with the weight of the roller that gets the asphalt down to 90-95% density- then they use another 4 wheel roller that can get it a little more- so two jobs no one wants to do is the overlay crew that has to stand on each side and shovel the 300 asphalt excess back on top and the roller driver- it beats you to death by the day’s end!!!
2 mentions of vibration so far, so I found this on Wiki:
