CET 06210 PAVEMENT DESIGN

LECTURE 1: MODULE DESCRIPTION

Module Objectives:
The purpose of this course is to introduce the concepts
of design, performance, and analysis of rigid and
flexible pavements. The course will focus on four
specific areas:
review of engineering materials used for pavement
construction,
empirical and mechanistic design methodologies for
pavement construction and rehabilitation,
influence of traffic loading on pavement performance,
pavement management.
 Objectives:
To understand pavement engineering, terminology, and
concepts.
To understand the different types of pavements.
To recognize the different types of flexible pavements as well as
rigid pavements.
To develop skills in conducting analysis of pavements by
calculating the response due to vehicular loading
To perform design of rigid and flexible pavements based on
traffic and environmental factors
To develop skills in engineering economics (especially life-cycle
cost calculations for alternative designs)
To develop basic understanding of the principles of pavement
management
Sub Enabling Outcomes
Describe principles of pavement design
Describe methods for the structural design of
pavement
Explain procedures for pavement design
Pre- requisite module: CET05101 and CET 05207

Learning context: This module will be taught through

Lectures, Tutorials and Practicals
Learning contents:
Introduction to Pavement Design
Definition of Pavement
Types of pavement
(-flexible pavement, rigid pavement and semi-rigid
pavement)

Pavement Structure
Structure of pavement
Layers forming pavements
Functions of various pavement layers
 Design of paved roads
Important design criteria
Factors to be considered in pavement design
Codes for structural pavement design
Design of various layers in pavement using prevailing codes
Preparation of structural pavement drawings

Design of unpaved roads

Important design criteria
Factors to be considered in unpaved road design
Codes for structural unpaved road design
Design of various layers in unpaved road using prevailing codes
Preparation of structural unpaved road drawings
 Integrated methods of Assessment:
Continuous Assessment 40%
End of semester Examination 60%
LECTURE 2: 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.
Improper design of pavements leads to early failure of
pavements affecting the riding quality
Pavement is finished with a hard smooth surface in order to
make it durable and able to withstand traffic and the
environment.
Requirements of a pavement
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 pavements:
Flexible pavement
Modern flexible pavements contain sand and gravel or
crushed stone compacted with a binder of bituminous
material, such as asphalt, tar, or asphaltic oil. Such a
pavement has enough plasticity to absorb shock.
 Flexible Pavement
Structure
Surface course
Base course
Subbase course
Subgrade
wheel loads are transferred
by grain-to-grain contact of
the aggregate through the
granular structure. The
flexible pavement, having
less flexural strength, acts
like a flexible sheet (e.g.
bituminous road)
 Rigid pavements
Rigid pavements are made of concrete, composed of coarse and
fine aggregate and portland cement, and usually reinforced with
steel rod or mesh.

Pavement is Finished with a hard smooth surface. It helped make

them durable and able to withstand traffic and the environment. They
have a life span of between 20 30 years.
Rigid Pavement
Structure
- Surface course
- Base course
- Subbase course
- Subgrade

wheel loads are transferred

to sub-grade soil by flexural
strength of the pavement
and the pavement acts like a
rigid plate (e.g. cement
concrete roads)
In addition to these, composite pavements are also
available. A thin layer of flexible pavement over rigid
pavement is an ideal pavement with most desirable
characteristics. However, such pavements are rarely used in
new construction because of high cost and complex analysis
required