The mud must be placed and finished before the reaction is too far along or it will lose its strength. For some applications wire mesh, rebar or fiber mesh are included in the pavement for additional strength. Concrete does not bend. It is strong but brittle. It is more expensive to install than asphalt but is a wise investment for certain locations.
Asphalt pavement is a mixture of rock and sand held together by liquid asphalt cement.
Liquid asphalt is a product of crude oil refining. It is heated and combined with the aggregate at a temperature of over 300 degrees. Asphalt will bend with traffic loads and with expansive soils. If these factors are greater than the pavement is designed to withstand, it may crack or break instead of returning to its original shape. This kind of damage is commonly seen at dumpster loading areas and in parking stalls.