Mulungushi University

Department of Engineering
CIE 435 – HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
(Pre-requisite – CIE 352 – SOIL MECHANICS)
Fourth Year 1st Semester– Civil
Engineering

Lecturer: Frank Mwangilwa

BEng (Civil), MSc Eng. (Struct), MSc. (Infra. & Mgt), MEIZ, R.Eng.
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 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.
 Two types of pavements are generally recognized as serving this
purpose, namely flexible pavements and rigid pavements.
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1.Flexible pavements?

2. Rigid Pavements?

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1.Flexible pavements?
 Flexible pavements or roads are areas of asphalt that “bend” or
“deflect” due to traffic loads, making them less susceptible to
damage and requiring fewer repairs over time. A flexible
pavement structure is composed of several layers of different
materials which together enable the road to accommodate this
flexing.
 Flexible pavement consists of a surface layer of bitumen-bound
aggregate (asphalt concrete), several lower layers of appropriate
quality aggregate and the subgrade beneath. The layers enable
the pavement to “bend”, reducing damage and the need for
repairs over time.
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2.Rigid pavements

 Rigid pavement is the technical term for any

road surface made of concrete.

 . Further, these pavements can have reinforcing steel,

which is generally used to reduce or eliminate joints.
In Flexible pavements load distribution is primarily based on a layered
system. While in a rigid pavement most of the load is carried by the
slab itself and a slight load goes to the underlying layers

In flexible pavements the underlying layers play an important role.

Pavement deflection basin is very deep because of its dependency
on the underlying layers. While in rigid pavements the deflection
basin is shallow because of independency of the rrigid pavements on
underlying layers
Flexible pavement has low modulus of Elasticity (less strength).
Modulus of elasticity of Rigid Pavemnt is very high because of the
high strength concrete and more load bearing capacity of the
pavement itself.

Structural capacity of flexible pavements depends on the

characteristics of every single layer while the structural capacity of
rigid pavements in only dependant on the characteristic of the
concrete slab.
 Subgrade (Prepared Road Bed)
 The subgrade is usually the natural material located along the
horizontal alignment of the pavement and serves as the
foundation of the pavement structure.
 It also may consist of a layer of selected borrow materials, well
compacted to prescribed specifications
 It may be necessary to treat the subgrade material to achieve
certain strength properties required for the type of pavement
being constructed.
 Subbase Course
 Located immediately above the subgrade, the subbase
component consists of material of a superior quality to that which
is generally used for subgrade construction.
 The requirements for subbase materials usually are given in
terms of the gradation, plastic characteristics, and strength.
 When the quality of the subgrade material meets the
requirements of the subbase material, the subbase component
may be omitted.
 In cases where suitable subbase material is not readily available,
the available material can be treated with other materials to
achieve the necessary properties by stabilization.
 Base Course
 The base course lies immediately above the subbase. It is placed
immediately above the subgrade if a subbase course is not used.
 This course usually consists of granular materials such as
crushed stone, crushed or uncrushed slag, crushed or uncrushed
gravel, and sand.
 The specifications for base course materials usually include more
strict requirements than those for subbase materials, particularly
with respect to their plasticity, gradation, and strength.
 Materials that do not have the required properties can be used as
base materials if they are properly stabilized with Portland
cement, asphalt, or lime.
 Surface Course
 The surface course is the upper course of the road pavement and
is constructed immediately above the base course.
 The surface course in flexible pavements usually consists of a
mixture of mineral aggregates and asphalt.
 It should be capable of withstanding high tire pressures, resisting
abrasive forces due to traffic, providing a skid resistant driving
surface, and preventing the penetration of surface water into the
underlying layers.
 the quality of the surface course of a flexible pavement depends
on the mix design of the asphalt concrete used.
 Pavement Slab:
 Portland Cement Concrete (PCC)
 It can be used for heavy traffic-roads, weak subgrade, and if the
pavement surface is exposed to chemical actions.
 Subbase Course:
 Reduces the subgrade pumping.
 Subgrade
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