Base course

Layers in the construction of a mortarless pavement:
A. Subgrade
B. Subbase
C. Base course
D. Paver base
E. Pavers
F. Fine-grained sand

The base course or basecourse in pavements is a layer of material in an asphalt roadway, race track, riding arena, or sporting field that is located directly under the surface layer.

If there is a subbase course, the base course is constructed directly above this layer. Otherwise, it is built directly on top of the subgrade. Typical base course thickness ranges from 4 to 6 inches and is governed by underlying layer properties. Generally consisting of a specific type of construction aggregate, it is placed by means of attentive spreading and compacting to a minimum of 95% relative compaction, thus providing the stable foundation needed to support either additional layers of aggregates or the placement of an asphalt concrete wearing course which is applied directly on top of the base course.^[1][2]

Aggregate base (AB) is typically made of a recipe of mixing different sizes of crushed rock together forming the aggregate which has certain desirable properties. 3/4 inch Aggregate Base, Class 2, is used in roadways and is an aggregate made of a specific recipe of different sizes and quality of rock inclusive of ³⁄₄ in (19.05 mm) to fine dust. An aggregate is normally made from newly quarried rock, or it is sometimes allowed to be made from recycled asphalt concrete and/or Portland cement concrete.

References

1. Lay, M. G. (2009). Handbook of Road Technology (4 ed.). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0203892534.
2. Phatak, D. R.; Gite, H. K. Highway Engineering. Nirali Prakashan. ISBN 8185790922.