I

Week 3: Introduction to Design Aspects

Course:
CE-309 Transportation Engineering-I

Course Instructor:
Engr. Muhammad Umair Khan
M.Sc Urban Infrastructure Engineering (UET Peshawar)
Lecturer/ Lab Coordinator
Department of Civil Engineering

Abasyn University, Peshawar

1
Table of Contents

1. Structural Design
2. Road Cross-section
Considerations
3. Geometrical
Considerations

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 Structural Design of
01 a Road

3
Structural Components of a Road

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 Subgrade
• Subgrade consists of compacted earthwork

• It is the soil foundation of the road which receives traffic loads from pavement
and transfers to the natural ground safely

• Entire road structure rests on subgrade, therefore its failure affects the
performance of entire road

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 Sub-base Course
• The sub-base performs four main functions:

1. It provides a structural layer that distributes loads to the subgrade.

2. It provides a working platform for construction traffic and a paving platform on

to which the asphalt materials can be placed and compacted.

3. It acts as an insulating layer or lift protecting the subgrade from frost.

4. It provides a drainage layer to remove some water from the pavement.

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 Base Course
• The base course is the most important layer of a road structure which transfers
the stresses developed due to traffic impacts through the wearing course. The
base course layer provides the required foundation stiffness and structural
strength.

• Good quality crushed aggregates in line with technical specifications must be

used.

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 Surface Course or Wearing Course
• Surface course is multiple layers of pavement structure where the top layer is
directly exposed to traffic. The surface course is also called the wearing course

• For flexible pavements, the bituminous surface is the wearing course whereas
in rigid pavement the concrete surface act as the base course and wearing
course

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 Structural Design Methods
• There are two major pavement thickness analysis methodologies:

1. Experimental/Statistical method of AASHTO

2. Mechanistic/Empirical Method by Asphalt Institute and the Portland Cement
Association

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 Typical Road
02 Cross-Section and
its Components

10
Typical Cross-Section of a Road

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 Camber
• Surface protection especially for gravel and bituminous roads

• Sub-grade protection by proper drainage

• Quick drying of pavement which in turn increases safety

• Too steep slope is undesirable for it will erode the surface.

• Camber is measured in 1 in n or n% and the value depends on the type of

pavement surface.

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Types of Cambers

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 Carriageway Width
• Width of the carriage way or the width of the pavement depends on the width of
the traffic lane and number of lanes.

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 Pavement Surface Characteristics
• For safe and comfortable driving some aspects of the pavement surface are
important:

1. the friction between the wheels and the pavement surface

2. smoothness of the road surface

3. drainage to water

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 Kerbs
• Kerbs indicate the boundary between the carriage way and the shoulder or
footpaths

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 Geometrical
03 Considerations

17
Road Alignments

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Vertical and Horizontal Curve

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Super Elevation

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