Types of Road Rollers in India: Models, Specs and Use Guide

Recently, a Rs 4,200 crore Kanpur Lucknow expressway sinked within weeks of opening, as reported by India Today. A significant number of expressways and highways fail the soil compaction tests. A lot of times it's not the issue with the materials but the problem can be with the soil compactor too. Therefore selecting the right compactor (Road Rollers)is important. But selecting among different types of road rollers in India can be confusing.

Road Rollers in India: A Complete Guide for Contractors

In this section, you will learn how each road roller (Compactor) works, where it fits best and which models give you real value.

1. Single Drum Soil Compactor

A single drum soil compactor has a steel drum at the front and rubber tyres at the back. It is the main road roller for soil, sub base and base course work.

There are two types of drum types in soil compactor. The drum type decides which type of soil it can be used for:

Smooth Drum Compactor

A smooth drum compactor has one plain steel cylinder with no lugs. It compacts with its own static weight along with strong vibratory force. So, it works best on granular soils like sand, gravel and crushed stone. You will also see it used for sub base and base course layers in highway construction.

Popular smooth drum compactor models:

Sheepsfoot (Spike Foot) Compactor

A sheepsfoot compactor has small, hard, knob like projections called lugs on its drum. These lugs press into the soil and compact the lower layer first before moving towards the top. This is called “walking out”. 

The drum also kneads the soil, removing trapped air and water. This makes the machine suitable for sticky soils like heavy clay and Black Cotton Soil, commonly found in India. 

Below are the best sheepfoot compactors (Road Rollers) in India:

2. Double Drum (Tandem Vibratory) Roller

A double drum roller has smooth steel drums on both the front and rear axles. Contractors also call it a tandem vibratory roller. Both drums are smooth, so use it on asphalt mat layers, not on soil. You can pick from two kinds.

A vibratory tandem roller vibrates both drums. This dual action compaction gives maximum density on the asphalt mat. You can use this roller machine for most asphalt jobs during road construction. 

There is also an oscillatory tandem roller. This type of compactor uses horizontal shear force instead of up and down vibration. It is suitable for compaction on existing pavements and delicate structures since it compacts without damaging them. 

Popular double drum rollers in India are:

3. Pneumatic Tyre Roller

A pneumatic tyre roller, also called a rubber tyred roller, uses rubber tyres instead of a steel drum. It has two rows of smooth tyres, one at the front and another at the rear. The rear tyres cover the gaps left by the front tyres. This ensures even compaction across the asphalt surface. 

Where are Pneumatic Tyre Rollers Used?

Pneumatic tyre rollers are mainly used for intermediate rolling in road construction. They usually work between two passes of a tandem vibratory roller.

• First, the tandem vibratory roller compacts the asphalt.
• Next, the pneumatic tyre roller seals the surface and closes small gaps.
• Finally, the tandem roller makes another pass to give the road a smooth finish.

Popular pneumatic tyre roller models:

Conclusion

Choosing the right soil compactor depends on the type of soil, road layer and compaction work. Smooth drum rollers work well on sand and gravel, while sheepsfoot rollers are better for clayey soil. Double drum and pneumatic tyre rollers are mainly used for asphalt compaction. Understanding these types of road rollers will help you choose the right machine for your construction work.