Screed Plate for Paving Machine

A screed plate for a screed assembly towed by a mobile paver comprising:

• a forward leading edge;
• a rearward trailing edge parallel to the forward leading edge;
• an upper attachment surface extending between the forward leading edge and the rearward trailing edge;
• a lower textured surface opposite the upper attachment surface, the lower textured surface having a gradation pattern including a plurality of protruding elements and a plurality of channeling grooves located between the plurality of protruding elements, the plurality of channeling grooves branching in increasing number between the forward leading edge and the rearward trailing edge.

A method of laying a paving mat comprising:

• receiving a paving material in a hopper of a mobile paver traveling longitudinally in a travel direction over a ground surface;
• conveying the paving material from the hopper to an auger arranged laterally perpendicular to the travel direction of the mobile paver;
• laterally distributing the paving material before a screed frame of a screed assembly;
• compacting the paving material underneath a forward leading edge of a screed plate attached to an underside of the screed frame;
• directing the paving material into an increasing plurality of channeling grooves defined by a gradation pattern on the screed plate;
• and
• forming the paving material into an increasing plurality of windrows corresponding to the increasing plurality of plate grooves to produce a homogenous paving mat behind a trailing edge of the screed plate.