ROAD PAVEMENT

INTRODUCTION:
 A HIGHWAY PAVEMENT IS A STRUCTURE CONSISTING OF
SUPERIMPOSED LAYERS OF PROCESSED MATERIALS ABOVE THE
NATURAL SOIL SUB-GRADE, WHOSE PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO
DISTRIBUTE THE APPLIED VEHICLE LOADS TO THE SUB-GRADE.
 THE PAVEMENT STRUCTURE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SURFACE
OF ACCEPTABLE RIDING QUALITY, ADEQUATE SKID RESISTANCE,
FAVORABLE LIGHT REFLECTING CHARACTERISTICS, AND LOW NOISE
POLLUTION.
 THE ULTIMATE AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT THE TRANSMITTED STRESSES
DUE TO WHEEL LOAD ARE SUFFICIENTLY REDUCED, SO THAT THEY
WILL NOT EXCEED BEARING CAPACITY OF THE SUB-GRADE.

REQUIREMENTS OF A PAVEMENT:
AN IDEAL PAVEMENT SHOULD MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

 SUFFICIENT THICKNESS TO DISTRIBUTE THE WHEEL LOAD STRESSES TO

A SAFE VALUE ON THE SUB-GRADE SOIL,
 STRUCTURALLY STRONG TO WITHSTAND ALL TYPES OF STRESSES
IMPOSED UPON IT,
 ADEQUATE COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION TO PREVENT SKIDDING OF
VEHICLES,
 SMOOTH SURFACE TO PROVIDE COMFORT TO ROAD USERS EVEN AT
HIGH SPEED,
 PRODUCE LEAST NOISE FROM MOVING VEHICLES,
 DUST PROOF SURFACE SO THAT TRAFFIC SAFETY IS NOT IMPAIRED BY
REDUCING VISIBILITY,
 IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, SO THAT SUB-GRADE SOIL IS WELL PROTECTED,
AND
 LONG DESIGN LIFE WITH LOW MAINTENANCE COST.

TYPES OF ROAD PAVEMENTS

ACCORDING TO MATERIALS FOLLOWING ARE THE TYPES OF PAVEMENTS:
 WATER BOUND MACADAM ROADS
 BITUMINOUS ROADS
 CEMENT CONCRETE ROAD
 EARTHEN ROAD
 ASPHALT ROAD

WATER BOUND MACADAM ROADS:

 WBM ROAD MEANS WATER BOUND MACADAM ROAD.
 THE WEARING SURFACE OF WBM ROAD CONSIST OF CLEAN AND
CRUSHED AGGREGATES WHICH ARE MECHANICALLY INTERLOCKED BY
ROLLING OPERATION.
 THE MATERIAL IS BOUND WITH FILLER MATERIAL (WHICH ARE ALSO
CALLED AS SCREENINGS) AND WATER, LAID ON PREPARED BASE
COURSE.

MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR WBM ROAD CONSTRUCTION

THERE ARE MAINLY 3 TYPES OF MATERIALS WHICH ARE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
WBM ROAD.

 COURSE AGGREGATE
 SCREENINGS (FILLER MATERIAL)
 BINDING MATERIAL

COURSE AGGREGATE:

UNLIKE OTHER COURSE AGGREGATES IT CONSIST OF MIXTURE OF HARD

AND DURABLE CRUSHED AGGREGATES AND BROKEN STONES. 

THE COURSE AGGREGATES USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WBM ROAD

SHOULD HOLD THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES.

 IT SHOULD BE HARD AND DURABLE.

 THE COURSE AGGREGATE SHOULD BE FREE FROM FLAKY AND
ELONGATED PARTICLES.
 THE COURSE AGGREGATE SHOULD BE IN ACCEPTABLE SHAPE AND SIZE.
SCREENINGS:
 THE MATERIAL WHICH IS USED UP TO FILL UP THE EXCESS VOIDS
PRESENT IN THE COMPACTED LAYER OF COURSE AGGREGATE IS
CALLED AS SCREENINGS.
 SCREENING MATERIAL IS NOTHING BUT THE AGGREGATES OF SMALLER
SIZE THAN THE COURSE AGGREGATES. BELOW TABLE SHOWS THE
STANDARD GRADING REQUIRED OF SCREENING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
WBM ROAD.

BINDING MATERIAL:

BINDING MATERIAL WHICH IS GOING TO BE USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION

OF WBM ROAD SHOULD BE PROPERLY APPROVED BY ENGINEER AND IT
SHOULD HAVE PLASTICITY INDEX VALUE LESS THAN 6.

CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE OF WBM ROAD

 PREPARATION OF FOUNDATION FOR WBM ROAD.

 PROVISION FOR LATERAL CONFINEMENT

 SPREADING OF COURSE AGGREGATES

 ROLLING OPERATION

 APPLICATION OF SCREENINGS

 SPRINKLING OF WATER AND GROUTING

 APPLICATION OF BINDING MATERIAL

 SETTING AND DRYING OF SURFACE

 PREPARATION OF SHOULDERS

 OPEN FOR TRAFFIC

ADVANTAGES OF WBM ROAD :

 THE CONSTRUCTION COST OF WBM ROAD IS COMPARATIVELY LOW.

 IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WBM ROAD NO SKILLED LABOURS ARE
REQUIRED.
 THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED FROM LOCALLY AVAILABLE MATERIALS.
 IF THE WBM ROADS ARE MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND FROM TIME TO
TIME, IT CAN RESIST LOAD OF TRAFFIC OF ABOUT 900 TONNES PER
LANE PER DAY.

DISADVANTAGES OF WBM ROAD :

 THE MAINTENANCE COST OF WBM ROADS IS HIGH.

 THE OVERALL LIFE SPAN OF THESE ROADS IS VERY LESS.
 IF THE WBM ROADS ARE NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED THEY CAN
CAUSE INCONVENIENCE AND DANGER TO TRAFFIC.
 AS WBM ROADS ARE PERMEABLE TO RAIN WATER, IT LEADS TO
SOFTENING AND YIELDING OF SUBSOIL.

BITUMINOUS ROADS:
 BITUMINOUS ROAD CONSISTS OF THEIR SURFACE WITH BITUMINOUS
MATERIALS WHICH IS ALSO CALLED AS ASPHALT.
 IT IS STICKY DARK VISCOUS LIQUID OBTAINED FROM NATURAL
DEPOSITS LIKE CRUDE PETROLEUM.
TYPES OF BITUMINOUS SURFACES:

PRIME COAT:
THIS IS A SINGLE COAT OF LOW VISCOSITY BITUMINOUS BINDER. THIS COAT
IS APPLIED TO EXISTING UNTREATED PERVIOUS LAYER LIKE WBM. THE MAIN
PURPOSE IS TO IMPROVE THE ADHESION BETWEEN BASE AND BITUMINOUS
SURFACE.

FUNCTIONS:
 THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION IS TO IMPORVE THE ADHESION
BETWEEN EXISTING PERVIOUS BASE AND WEARING SURFACE.
 TO BIND THE DUST AND LOOSE PARTICLES TOGETHER TO FORM
HARD AND TOUGH SURFACE.
 IT PROVIDES TEMPORARY SEAL TO PREVENT THE SURFACE WATER
FROM PENETRATING THROUGH THE SURFACE.

TACK COAT:
THIS IS SINGLE COAT OF LOW VISCOSITY BITUMINOUS BINDER APPLIED TO
THE EXISTING TREATED IMPERVIOUS LAYER SUCH AS BITUMEN OR CEMENT-
CONCRETE BASE. THIS BOAT IS APPLIED BETWEEN TREATED BASE AND
BITUMINOUS SURFACE.

FUNCTION:
 IT IS PROVIDED TO IMPROVE THE ADEQUATE BOND BETWEEN
EXISTING IMPERVIOUS BASE AND WEARING SURFACE.

SEAL COAT:
SEAL COAT IS THE FINAL COAT OF BITUMINOUS MATERIAL THAT IS APPLIED
ON THE TOP OF SURFACE TO PREVENT THE ENTRY OF MOISTURE THROUGH
THE VOIDS.
FUNCTION:
 TO PROVIDE WATER TIGHT SURFACE.
 IT IMPROVES THE VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AND DEVELOPS SKID
RESISTANT TEXTURE.
 TO IMPROVE THE WEARING RESISTANCE OF AN EXISTING ROAD
SURFACE.

SURFACE DRESSING:
IT IS THE PROCESS IN WHICH TWO OR MORE COATS OF BITUMINOUS
MATERIALS ARE APPLIED TO PREPARED BASE. THIS COAT CONSISTS OF
BITUMINOUS BINDERS SPRAYED ON WHICH CHIPPED AGGREGATES ARE
PROPERLY ROLLED.

FUNCTION:
 IT PREVENTS THE REMOVAL OF BINDING MATERIAL AND PREVENTS
THE DAMAGE OF ROAD DUE TO WATERPROOFING EFFECTS.
 ROADS CAN BE EASILY CLEANED AND WASHED AS IT REDUCES DUST
NUISANCE.
 SMOOTH SURFACE OF THE ROAD REDUCES THE WEAR AND TEAR OF
TYRES.

BITUMINOUS ROAD CONSTRUCTION STEPS AND PROCEDURE

BITUMINOUS PENETRATION MACADAM ROAD :

 IN THIS TYPE OF BITUMINOUS ROAD THE AGGREGATES ARE BOUND

TOGETHER BY GROUTING BITUMEN INTO THE VOIDS OF THE
COMPACTED AGGREGATES. THIS TYPE OF BITUMINOUS ROAD IS
GENERALLY ADOPTED FOR THE THICKNESS OF 50 AND 75 MM.

 THE GRADE OF BITUMEN TO BE USED FOR THIS TYPE OF ROAD

SUGGESTED BY IRC RANGES FROM 80/ 100, 60/ 70 & 30/ 40. ANY ONE OF
THE ABOVE GRADE CAN BE ADOPTED.
 ROAD TARS OF GRADES SUCH AS  RT-4 & RT-5 CAN ALSO BE USED.
CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE OF BITUMINOUS PENETRATION MACADAM
ROAD:
 
 PREPARATION OF EXISTING SURFACE
 SPREADING OF COURSE AGGREGATES 
 ROLLING OPERATION
 BITUMEN APPLICATION
 SPREADING OF KEY AGGREGATES
 SEAL COAT APPLICATION
 FINISHING
 OPEN TO TRAFFIC

BITUMEN CARPET ROAD:

 IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BITUMEN CARPET ROAD THE

RECOMMENDED BITUMEN BINDER IS 80/ 100 GRADE AND THE TAR
REQUIRED SHOULD BE OF GRADE RT-3.
 THE STONE CHIPPINGS REQUIRED FOR 2 CM CARPET THICKNESS
SHOULD BE 12 MM AND 10 MM.

CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE OF BITUMEN CARPET ROAD:

 PREPARATION OF THE EXISTING SURFACE 

 APPLICATION OF TACK COAT 
 PREPARATION AND PLACING OF PREMIX
 ROLLING AND FINISHING
 SURFACE FINISH
 OPEN TO TRAFFIC

ADVANTAGES OF BITUMINOUS ROAD:

 GENERALLY BITUMINOUS ROAD DO NOT DEVELOP CRACKS ON THE

SURFACE FOR LONG PERIOD.
 MAINTENANCE COST OF THIS ROAD IS ALSO VERY LESS.
 BITUMINOUS ROAD ARE WATERPROOF, NON-SLIPPERY, SMOOTH,
DURABLE AND IT PROVIDES COMFORTABLE ROAD SURFACE FOR THE
TRAFFIC.
 IT CAN WITHSTAND THE ADVERSE NATURAL EFFECTS CAUSED BY
HEAVY RAIN, EXCESS HEAT AND CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE.

DISADVANTAGES OF BITUMINOUS ROAD:

 THE VISCOSITY OF THE BITUMEN AND AGGREGATE MIX PLAYS
IMPORTANT ROLE IN DEFINING THE PERFORMANCE OF BITUMINOUS
ROAD.
 IF THE BITUMINOUS MATERIAL IS USED IN EXCESS THAN THE VALUE
FOR GIVEN MIX, IT EFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BITUMINOUS
ROAD.

ASPHALT ROAD
 ASPHALT ALSO KNOWN AS IS A STICKY, BLACK AND HIGHLY VISCOUS
LIQUID OR SEMI-SOLID FORM OF PETROLEUM.
 IT MAY BE FOUND IN NATURAL DEPOSITS OR MAY BE A REFINED
PRODUCT.
 THE PRIMARY USE (70%) OF ASPHALT/BITUMEN IS IN ROAD
CONSTRUCTION, WHERE IT IS USED AS THE GLUE OR BINDER MIXED
WITH AGGREGATE PARTICLES TO CREATE ASPHALT CONCRETE.
 ASPHALT CONCRETE IS A COMPOSITE MATERIAL COMMONLY USED TO
SURFACE ROADS, PARKING LOTS, AND AIRPORTS. IT CONSISTS OF
MINERAL AGGREGATE BOUND TOGETHER WITH ASPHALT, LAID IN
LAYERS, AND COMPACTED.
 ASPHALTS RELY ON THEIR DENSE, STIFF MORTAR FOR STRENGTH AND
STIFFNESS.
 AN ASPHALT CONCRETE SURFACE WILL GENERALLY BE CONSTRUCTED
FOR HIGH-VOLUME PRIMARY HIGHWAYS HAVING AN AVERAGE
ANNUAL DAILY TRAFFIC LOAD GREATER THAN 1200 VEHICLES PER
DAY.
 ADVANTAGES OF ASPHALT ROADWAYS INCLUDE RELATIVELY LOW
NOISE, RELATIVELY LOW COST COMPARED WITH OTHER PAVING
METHODS, AND PERCEIVED EASE OF REPAIR.
 DISADVANTAGES INCLUDE LESS DURABILITY THAN OTHER PAVING
METHODS, LESS TENSILE STRENGTH THAN CONCRETE, THE TENDENCY
TO BECOME SLICK AND SOFT IN HOT WEATHER AND A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF HYDROCARBON POLLUTION TO SOIL AND GROUNDWATER
OR WATERWAYS.

CEMENT CONCRETE ROAD

 CONCRETE SURFACES (SPECIFICALLY, PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE)
ARE CREATED USING A CONCRETE MIX OF PORTLAND CEMENT, COARSE
AGGREGATE, SAND AND WATER .
 CONCRETE (CEMENT) IS PRODUCED FROM ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE
LIMESTONE.
 CONCRETE ROADS HAVE A LONG SERVICE LIFE OF FORTY YEARS AND
DURING THIS SERVICE LIFE CONCRETE ROAD DO NOT REQUIRE
FREQUENT REPAIR OR PATCHING WORK .
 A VEHICLE, WHEN RUN OVER A CONCRETE ROAD, CONSUMES 15-20%
LESS FUEL THAN THAT ON ASPHALT ROADS.
 THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT A CONCRETE ROAD DOES NOT GET
DEFLECTED UNDER THE WHEELS OF LOADED TRUCKS.

EARTH ROAD
WHEN THE FOUNDATION AND WEARING SURFACE OF THE ROAD CONSISTS
OF ONE OR TWO COMPACTED LAYERS OF AN ORDINARY SOIL OR STABILIZED
SOIL THEN SUCH ROAD IS CALLED AS “EARTH ROAD’

TYPES OF EARTH ROADS:

THERE ARE MAINLY TWO TYPES OF EARTH ROADS:

ORDINARY EARTH ROAD.

WHEN THE FOUNDATION AND WEARING SURFACE OF THE ROAD IS

CONSTRUCTED BY ONE OR TWO COMPACTED LAYERS OF A NATURAL SOIL
AVAILABLE ALONG ALIGNMENT OF THE ROAD THEN SUCH TYPE OF ROAD IS
CALLED AS ARE THE ORDINARY EARTH ROAD.

STABILIZED EARTH ROAD.

WHEN THE FOUNDATION AND WEARING SURFACE OF THE ROAD IS

CONSTRUCTED BY ONE OR TWO COMPACTED LAYERS OF STABILIZED SOIL IT
IS CALLED AS STABILIZED EARTH ROAD.

MATERIALS REQUIRES
FOR EARTH ROADS THERE ARE ONLY TWO MATERIALS REQIRED FOR EARTH
ROADS:

 NATURAL SOIL OR LOCALLY AVAILABLE SOIL

 SUITABLE STABILIZERS REQUIRED FOR THE GIVEN CONDITIONS

ADVANTAGES OF EARTH ROADS:

 THE CONSTRUCTION OF EARTH ROAD IS A FAST PROCESS.

 PROPER SELECTION OF THE GRADIENT GIVE BALANCED EARTHWORK.
 IN FUTURE IF OTHER TYPE OF ROAD IS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON
THE EXISTING EARTH ROAD, IT GIVES GOOD FOUNDATION.
 THE OVERALL PROCESS IS RELATIVELY CHEAPER THAN OTHER ROAD
TYPES.

DISADVANTAGES OF EARTH ROADS:

 THESE ROADS ARE ONLY USEFUL FOR LIGHT TRAFFIC. IT CANNOT

SUSTAIN THE LIFESPAN OF THE ROAD IF IT IS ALLOWED FOR HEAVY
TRAFFIC.
 THIS TYPE OF ROAD WEARS QUICKLY AND THE MAINTENANCE IS
LITTLE BIT COSTLIER.
 THIS TYPE OF ROAD CANNOT BE CONSTRUCTED OR IT WILL BE
WORTHLESS IN THE AREAS WHERE MONSOON IS ON PEAK OR AREAS
THAT HAVE MAXIMUM RAINFALL, AS CONSTANT AND EXCESS
RAINFALL LASHES OUT THESE KIND OF ROADS.