Transportation Engineering II The Pavement 1 What is a Pavement? • A multi layer system that distributes the vehicular loads over a larger area 2 What is a Pavement? OR • Highway pavement is a structure consisting of superimposed layers of selected and processed materials whose primary function is to distribute the applied vehicle load to the sub grade. OR • It can also be defined as “structure which separates the tires of vehicles from the under lying foundation.” 3 What is a Pavement? • Pavement is the upper part of roadway, airport or parking area structure • It includes all layers resting on the original ground • – It consists of all structural elements or layers, including shoulders 4 Functions of the Pavement • Reduce and distribute the traffic loading so as not to damage the subgrade • – Provide vehicle access between two points under all-weather conditions • – Provide safe, smooth and comfortable ride to road users without undue delays and excessive wear & tear • – Meet environmental and aesthetics requirement • – Limited noise and air pollution • – Reasonable economy 5 Requirements of pavement structure • Sufficient thickness to spread loading to a pressure intensity tolerable by subgade • Sufficiently strong to carry imposed stress due to traffic load • Sufficient thickness to prevent the effect of frost susceptible subgade • Pavement material should be impervious to penetration of surface water which could weaken subgade and subsequently pavement • Pavement mat. shd be non-frost susceptible • Pavement surface shd. be skid resistant 6 Classification of Pavements 7 Types of Pavement PAVEMENTS Flexible Pavements Rigid Pavements 8 Flexible Pavements Asphalt Concrete Aggregate Base Course Natural Soil (Subgrade) Aggregate Subbase Course 9 Flexible Pavements Given Wheel Load 150 psi 3 psi Wearing C. Base Sub-base Sub-grade Load Distribution in Flexible Pavements 10 Rigid Pavements 11 Rigid Pavements Load Distribution in Rigid Pavements 12 Pavements Comparison Flexible pavements: • Deep foundations / multi layer construction • Energy consumption due to transportation of materials • Increasing cost of asphalt due to high oil prices Rigid pavements • Single layer • Generally last longer • May require asphalt topping due to noise / comfort issues 13 Pavements Comparison • Heavy vehicles consume less fuel on rigid pavements • Rigid pavements more economic when considering environmental / life-cycle costing 14 Flexible Pavement • “A flexible pavement is a structure that maintains intimate contact with and distributes load to the sub grade and depends on aggregate interlock, particle friction and cohesion for stability” 15 Flexible Pavement OR • It is a structure which distributes the traffic loading stresses to the soil (sub grade) at a magnitude that will not shear or distort the soil i.e., from 150 psi to 3 psi OR • Pavement which reflects deformation of sub grade & the subsequent layers on to the surface” i.e.; load is transmitted from grain to grain through contact points of granular material, i.e. in a compressive way. 16 Flexible Pavement Flexible pavements • Elastic • Three main layers – Surfacing • Wearing course • Base course – Road base – Sub base • Supported by Sub-grade 17 Flexible Pavement Introduction • Flexible pavements are so named because the total pavement structure deflects, or flexes, under loading. A flexible pavement structure is typically composed of several layers of different materials. 18 Flexible Pavement • Each layer receives the loads from the above layer, spreads them out, then passes on these loads to the next layer below. Thus, the further down in the pavement structure a particular layer is, the less load (in terms of force per unit area) it must carry. 19 Load Distribution In Flexible Pavements 20 Structure of Flexible Pavement • In order to take maximum advantage of this property, material layers are usually arranged in order of descending load bearing capacity with the highest load bearing capacity material (and most expensive) on the top and the lowest load bearing capacity material (and least expensive) at the bottom. 21 Structure of Flexible Pavement – Surface Course: This is the top layer and the layer that comes in contact with traffic. – Base Course: This is the layer directly below the surface course and generally consists of aggregates (either stabilized or un-stabilized). – Sub-base Course: This is the layer (or layers) under the base layer. A sub-base is not always needed. 22 Structure of Flexible Pavement – Sub-grade Course: The "sub-grade" is the material upon which the pavement structure is placed. Although there is a tendency to look at pavement performance in terms of pavement structure and mix design alone. The sub-grade can often be the overriding factor in pavement performance. 23 Surface Course • The surface course is the layer in contact with traffic loads and normally contains the highest quality materials. It provides characteristics such as friction, smoothness, noise control, rut and shoving resistance and drainage. 24 Surface Course • In addition, it serves to prevent the entrance of excessive quantities of surface water into the underlying base, sub-base and subgrade. This top structural layer of material is sometimes subdivided into two layers. 25 Wearing Course • This is the layer in direct contact with traffic loads. It is meant to take the brunt of traffic wear and can be removed and replaced as it becomes worn. A properly designed (and funded) preservation program should be able to identify pavement surface distress while it is still confined to the wearing course. This way, the wearing course can be rehabilitated before distress propagates into the underlying intermediate/blinder course 26 Intermediate/Binder Course – Intermediate/Binder Course: This layer provides the bulk of the HMA structure. It's main purpose is to distribute load. 27 Base Course • The base course is immediately beneath the surface course. It provides additional load distribution and contributes to drainage and frost resistance. Base courses are usually constructed out of: – Aggregates: Base courses are most typically constructed from durable aggregates that will not be damaged by moisture or frost action. Aggregates can be either stabilized or un-stabilized. 28 – HMA: In certain situations where high base stiffness is desired, base courses can be constructed using a variety of HMA mixes. In relation to surface course HMA mixes, base course mixes usually contain larger maximum aggregate sizes, are more open graded and are subject to more lenient specifications. 29 Lime rock Base Course Undergoing Final Grading 30 Sub-base Course • The sub-base course is between the base course and the sub-grade. It functions primarily as structural support but it can also: – Minimize the intrusion of fines from the subgrade into the pavement structure. – Improves drainage. – Minimize frost action damage. – Provides a working platform for construction. 31 Sub-base Course • The sub-base generally consists of lower quality materials than the base course but better than the sub-grade soils. • A sub-base course is not always needed or used. • For example, a pavement constructed over a high quality, stiff sub-grade may not need the additional features offered by a sub-base course so it may be omitted from design. 32 • However, a pavement constructed over a low quality soil such as a swelling clay may require the additional load distribution characteristic that a sub-base course can offer. In this scenario the sub-base course may consist of high quality fill used to replace poor quality sub-grade. 33 Sub-grade • Although a pavement's wearing course is most prominent, the success or failure of a pavement is more often than not dependent upon the underlying subgrade , the material upon which the pavement structure is built. 34 Sub-grade • Sub-grades be composed of a wide range of materials although some are much better than others. This subsection discusses a few of the aspects of sub-grade materials that make them either desirable or undesirable and the typical tests used to characterize sub-grades. 35 Sub-grade Preparation Sub-grade Failure Crack 36 Types of Flexible Pavement Dense-graded Open-graded Gap-graded 37 Flexible Pavement – Construction 38 Types of Pavements 39 Types of Pavements 40 Types of Pavements 41 Types of Pavements 42 Types of Pavements 43 Types of Pavements 44 Types of Flexible Pavements 45 Types of Flexible Pavements 46 Types of Flexible Pavements 47 Typical Load Distribution in Flexible Pavement Wheel Load Bituminous Layer Sub-grade 48 Typical Stress Distribution in Flexible Pavement. Vertical stress Foundation stress 49 Load Transfer Mechanism 50 Load Transfer Mechanism 51 Rigid Pavement • Rigid pavements are those, which contain sufficient beam strength to be able to bridge over the localized sub-grade failures and areas of in adequate support. OR • Load is transmitted through beam action of slab in rigid pavements. OR • Rigid pavements are those, which reduces the stress concentration and distributes the reduced stresses uniformly to the area under the slab. 52 Rigid Pavement • Rigidity – does not deform under stress • Concrete – air entrained increases resistance to frost damage and de-icing salt corrosion • Reinforcement – may be bars or mesh. Continuous rigid pavements have heavy reinforcement • Joints – used in non-continuous pavements to allow for thermal movement. Includes a ‘filler’ and surface sealant • Rigid pavements – laid as single layer by ‘concrete paver’ 53 Rigid Pavements 54 Basic Components of Concrete Pavement 55 Concrete paver 56 Rigid Pavements Load Distribution in Rigid Pavements 57 Rigid Pavements Introduction • Rigid pavements are so named because the pavement structure deflects very little under loading due to the high modulus of elasticity of their surface course. A rigid pavement structure is typically composed of a PCC surface course built on top of either – the sub-grade or – an underlying base course. 58 Rigid Pavements • Because of its relative rigidity, the pavement structure distributes loads over a wide area with only one, or at most two, structural layers. • There are other types of surfaces also i.e.; reinforced, continuously reinforced etc. 59 Structure of Rigid Pavement – Surface course. This is the top layer, which consists of the PCC slab, reinforced or continuously reinforced slabs . – Base course. This is the layer directly below the PCC layer and generally consists of aggregate or stabilized sub-grade. – Sub-base course. This is the layer (or layers) under the base layer. A sub-base is not always needed and therefore may often be omitted. 60 Surface Course • The surface course is the layer in contact with traffic loads and is made of PCC or RCC. It provides characteristics such as friction, smoothness, noise control and drainage. In addition, it serves as a waterproofing layer to the underlying base, sub-base and sub-grade. • The surface course can vary in thickness but is usually between 150 mm (6 inches for light loading) and 300 mm (12 inches for heavy loads and high traffic). Figure shows a 300 mm (12 inch) surface course. 61 PCC Surface Rigid Pavement Slab (Surface Course) Thickness 62 Base Course • The base course is immediately beneath the surface course. It provides • • • • Additional load distribution, Contributes to drainage and frost resistance, Uniform support to the pavement and A stable platform for construction equipment. Bases also help and prevent sub grade soil movement due to slab pumping. Base courses are usually constructed out of: – Aggregates base. A simple base course of crushed aggregates has been a common option since the early 1900s and is still appropriate in many situations. 63 Base Course – Stabilized aggregate or soil. Stabilizing agents are used to bind otherwise loose particles to one another, providing strength and cohesion. Cement treated bases (CTB s) can be built to as much as 20 - 25 percent of the surface course strength. – Dense-graded HMA. In situations where high base stiffness is desired base courses can be constructed using a dense-graded HMA layer. – Permeable HMA. In certain situations where high base stiffness and excellent drainage is desired, base courses can be constructed using an open graded HMA. 64 Base Course – Lean concrete. Contains less Portland cement paste than a typical PCC and is stronger than a stabilized aggregates. Lean concrete bases (LCB s) can be built to as much as 25 - 50 percent of the surface course strength. A lean concrete base, functions much like a regular PCC surface course and therefore, it requires construction joints and normally cracks over time. These joints and cracks can potentially cause reflection cracking in the surface course. 65 Completed CTB with Curing Seal Lean Concrete Base Material 66 Sub-base Course • The sub-base course is the portion of the pavement structure between the base course and the subgrade. It functions primarily as structural support but it can also: – Minimize the intrusion of fines from the sub-grade into the pavement structure. – Improves drainage. – Minimizes frost action damage. – Provides a working platform for construction. • The sub-base generally consists of lower quality materials than the base course but better than the sub-grade soils. Appropriate materials are 67 aggregates and high quality structural fill. Sub-grade • Sub grade provides support to the overlying concrete slab. If it is of good quality then slab can be laid over it without providing sub-base otherwise if it is extremely poor then a sub-base layer should be incorporated . • For design purpose the only thing to know about sub-grade is its classification and the unit pressure coming from slab to subgrade should be calculated for its selection. However, it must be resistant to 68 moisture damages. Types of Rigid Pavement • Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP) 69 Types of Rigid Pavement • Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) 70 Photo from the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute Rigid Pavement – Construction Slipform Fixed form 71 Pavements Comparison Flexible pavements: • Deep foundations / multi layer construction • Energy consumption due to transportation of materials • Increasing cost of asphalt due to high oil prices Rigid pavements • Single layer • Generally last longer • May require asphalt topping due to noise / comfort issues 72 Pavements Comparison 73 Types of Pavement Failure • • • • • • • • • Failure criteria Flexible Pavements Fatigue Cracking, Rutting, Thermal Cracking, Rigid Pavements Fatigue Cracking, Pumping or Erosion Others: Faulting, spalling, joint deterioration 74 Flexible vrs. Rigid Pavements 75 Flexible vrs. Rigid Pavements 76 Airport-Highway Pavements 77