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Cet 206 - Module 2
Cet 206 - Module 2
CET 206
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
Module-2
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil
Engineering STCET
reuben@stthomascollege.ac.in
SYLLABUS
Module Contents Hours
MODULE – 2
HIGHWAY MATERIALS
There are three important materials used for road construction
1. Subgrade Soil
2. Aggregate
3. Bituminous Material (Bitumen and Tar)
2.1. SUBGRADE SOIL
Subgrade soil receives load directly from pavement.
It gives adequate support to pavement
2.1.1 Desirable Properties of soil as highway material
1. Stability
2. Incompressibility
3. Strength
4. Good drainage
5. Ease of compaction
2.1.2 Strength of soil subgrade
Strength of soil depends on soil types, moisture content and density of soil
Strength of soil is evaluated by
1. Bearing test (Plate bearing test)
2. Penetration test (CBR test)
3. Shear test
1. Plate Bearing Test
To evaluate the strength
To determine the modulus of subgrade reaction
Instrument required:
Steel Plate (30 cm, 45 cm or 75 cm diameter plate)
Hydraulic jack – To apply load
Dial guage – To measure deflection
Procedure
1. Steel Plate is placed on the soil where strength is to be determined
2. Apply load by using hydraulic jack
Unit – kg/cm3
𝑝 𝐸
𝑘= =
𝛿 1.18𝑟
Where
p – pressure in kg/cm2
δ – Deformation in cm
r- radus of plate in cm
Example 1: If the modulus of subgrade reaction for a 30 cm plate is 200 N/cm3. Determine the
modulus of subgrade reaction for a 75 cm plate?
2. CBR Test
Instrument required
Procedure
1. Soil sample is filled in the mould at required OMC using 4.7 kg rammer giving 56 compaction
for each layer
3. Place the surcharge over the soil and the plunger is made in contact with the soil
4. Apply the load and record the load for different penetration
3. Shear Test
2.2. AGGREGATE
It is the main constituent of pavement
Strength of pavement depends on aggregate
2.2.1 Desirable Properties of road aggregate
1. Strength
To with stand stress due to wheel load
Evaluated by Crushing test
2. Hardness
Resistant to rubbing, abrasion or wear
Evaluated by Abrasion test
3. Toughness
Resistance to impact due to moving load
Evaluated by impact test
4. Durability
Resistance to the adverse action of weather
Evaluated by Soundness test
5. Shape
Shape of aggregate may be cubical, angular or rounded
Evaluated by Shape test
6. Adhesion with bitumen
Aggregate should have less affinity to water and more affinity to bitumen
Evaluated by stripping test
𝑊2
𝑨𝒈𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 = × 100
𝑊1
1. Specified weight of aggregate (W1) is placed in the Los Angeles Machine along with
abrasive charges (steel balls)
2. The specimen is weighed as W1 and transferred to the testing cup and having 25
tamping
3. Hammer is raised to 38 cm height and allowed to fall freely on to the specimen
4. After 15 hammer blow, the aggregate is passed through 2.36 mm sieve
5. The aggregate passing 2.36 mm sieve is weighed as W2
𝑊2
A𝒈𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 = 𝑊1 × 100
4. Soundness Test
To assess resistance to weathering
Apparatus: Cylinder, Solution of sodium sulphate or magnesium sulphate, oven
Procedure
1. Dry aggregate is weighed
2. Aggregate is immersed in Saturated solution of sodium sulphate or magnesium
sulphate for 16 to 18 hours
3. Then specimen is dried in an oven at 105o to 110o C thus making one cycle of
immersion and drying
4. Based on the requirement, several such cycles were completed
5. After final cycle, the loss in weight is determined
Aggregate for high quality pavement, the loss in weight should be less than 12% in sodium
sulphate and 18% in magnesium sulphate
5. Shape Test
To evaluate shape of aggregate
2. The aggregate are sieved through set of sieves and separated into specified size ranges
3. Each piece of aggregate is made to pass through the slot of corresponding size of
thickness gauge
4. The aggregate passing the appropriate slot are added up and weighed as W2
𝑊2
𝑭𝒍𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒙 = × 100
𝑊1
2. The aggregate are sieved through set of sieves and separated into specified size ranges
3. Each piece of aggregate is made to pass through the slot of corresponding size of
length gauge
4. The aggregate whose length greater than the specified slot is added and weighed as W2
𝑊2
𝑬𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒙 = × 100
𝑊1
Procedure
1. The sample is filled in the cylinder by 3 layers; each layer is tamped 100 times by
the tamping rod and weighed as W
100𝑊
𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 = 67 −
𝐶𝐺
Shape test
Procedure
1. Obtain the material that passes through 25mm sieve and is retained on 12.5mm sieve.
5. Keep the mixture undisturbed in a thermostatic water bath at a temperature of 40o C for
a period of 24 hours.
6. Estimate the extent of stripping by visual examination while the specimen is still under
water and express the average percent area of aggregates surface.
IRC has specified the maximum stripping value of 25% for aggregates to be used in road
constructions.
2.3.1 Bitumen
It is the product of distillation of petroleum products
Penetration test
2. Ductility test
Instrument used: Briquette mould, water bath and testing machine
Procedure
1. Melt the bitumen and pour into the briquette mould
2. Keep the briquette mould with bitumen in the water bath maintained at 27oC
3. Hook the briquette mould with bitumen to the ductility test apparatus
4. Start the machine and pull the bitumen horizontally
5. Note the distance at which the bitumen thread of specimen breaks and record it as
ductility value
Ductility value of bitumen vary from 5 to over 100
3. Viscosity test
Instrument required: Viscometer
Procedure:
1. The bitumen specimen is heated over specified temperature
2. Pour the heated bitumen into the viscometer cup
3. Open the orifice of the viscometer to allow bitumen to flow
4. Start the stopwatch and record the time to flow 50 ml of bitumen from the viscometer
5. Report the viscosity as the time taken in seconds for 50 ml of bitumen to flow
𝑊3 − 𝑊1
𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑊2 − 𝑊1 − (𝑊3 − 𝑊4)
Generally the specific gravity of pure bitumen is in the range of 0.97 to 1.02
5. Softening point test
Instrument required: Ring and ball apparatus
Procedure:
1. Heat the bitumen material until it is completely fluid
2. Assemble the apparatus with ring and ball and pour water into the apparatus
3. Pour the bitumen into the ring and allow to set and place the two balls on the bitumen
4. Apply heat to the apparatus and stir the liquid for uniform heating
5. As the temperature increases, the bitumen softens and the ball sinks through the ring
6. Note down the temperature when any one of the ball touches the bottom
7. Record the temperature when the second ball touches the bottom. The average of the
two temperatures is recorded as the softening point
The softening point of various bitumen used for pavement varies between 35o to 70o
RT -4
RT -5
Various tests on Tar:
1. Specific gravity test
2. Viscosity test
3. Softening point test
Top layer is the strongest so as to resist high pressure, wear and tear
Design of flexible pavement is based on empirical equations and design charts
2.4.2 Rigid pavement
High flexural rigidity
Example: Concrete road
Load transfer is by slab action
Consist of Soil subgrade, base and surface layer
Design of rigid pavement is based on elastic theory
2) Subgrade soil
3) Climatic factors
5) Environmental factors
2) Subgrade soil
Soil with low stability requires thick pavement
Stress strain behavior of soil is also influence the design
3) Climatic factors
Rainfall and moisture content affects the pavement design
Changes in temperature also affect the design
5) Environmental factors
The height of embankment, depth of cutting and depth of water table also influence
design of pavement
2.7 DESIGN OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT
Design of flexible pavement includes: Mix design and thickness of each layer.
The thickness of flexible pavement can be found out using CBR method
Design procedure:
1. Determine the design number of vehicles as follows
No. of vehicles per day, 𝑨 = 𝑷(𝟏 + 𝒓)𝒏+𝟏𝟎
Where,
A – Design number of vehicles/day
P – No. of vehicles during last count
r- rate of increase of vehicles. (Use 7.5% if not known)
n- No. of year from last count
2. Using the design number of vehicles, select design curve from CBR design chart given
below
3. From the design curve, determine the thickness of pavement above each layer based on
their CBR value
4. Provide minimum thickness of surface layer as 5 cm
5. Draw the pavement showing thickness of each layer
Example 1: Design a flexible pavement for the following data :- Subgrade CBR = 5 %. The
material available nearing construction site are as follows: Gravery soil with CBR = 15 % Soil
kankar mix with CBR = 30 %, WBM with CBR = 98 %, Provide at least 50 mm. thick BC as
surface course, Present commercial vehicles = 300 Growth rate of traffic = 6.5 %. The pavement
construction is to be completed in three years after last traffic count.
Solution:
No. of vehicles per day, 𝑨 = 𝑷(𝟏 + 𝒓)𝒏+𝟏𝟎
6.5
= 300(1 + 100 )3+10
= 680 veh/day
Based on the number of vehicle, select curve E for CBR design
CBR of Soil subgrade = 5%.
From CBR Chart, the total thickness of pavement above subgrade = 430 mm
Gravery soil with CBR = 15 %, Total thickness above this layer = 220 mm
Soil kankar mix with CBR = 30 %, Total thickness above this layer = 150 mm
WBM with CBR = 98, Total thickness above this layer = 70 mm
Thickness of surface course = 70 mm
Construction procedure
1. Preparation of existing surface – Clean and level existing layer and prime coat bitumen
is applied
2. Application of binder – Bitumen binder is applied using mechanical sprayer or by
manual pouring
3. Application of stone chipping – stone chipping is spread over the surface uniformly as
per the quantity required
4. Rolling – Surface is rolled with tandem roller from edge to center with overlapping
5. Finishing and opening to traffic – Surface is checked for cross profile and opened to
traffic after 24 hour
As bituminous concrete
Materials required
Property Value
Los angeles value % 35%
Impact value % 30%
Water absorption % 1%
Stripping value % 25%
Size, mm 9 mm to 12 mm
Quantity 0.09 to 0.15 m3/10m2
Construction procedure
1. Preparation of existing surface – Clean and level existing layer and prime coat bitumen
is applied
2. Application of binder – Bitumen binder is applied using mechanical sprayer or by
manual pouring
3. Application of premix – stone chipping is premixed with bitumen as hot mix and
placed over the surface using mechanical paver. Care should be taken to maintain proper
camber
4. Rolling – Surface is rolled with tandem roller from edge to center with overlapping
5. Finishing and opening to traffic – Surface is checked for cross profile and opened to
traffic after 24 hour
2.8.2 Construction of base layer
As Penetration macadam
Materials required
Bitumen of high viscosity or
Tar of grade RT4 or RT5
Aggregate properties
Property Value
Los angeles value % 40%
Construction procedure
1. Preparation of existing surface – Clean and level existing layer and prime coat bitumen
is applied
2. Spreading coarse aggregate – Coarse aggregate is spread over the surface using
mechanical method or by hand uniformly. Give proper edge protection to avoid spilling
of aggregate away from profile. Use template cut to provide required camber
3. Rolling – Surface is rolled with until compacted and interlocked from edge to center
with overlapping
4. Application of binder – Bitumen binder is applied using mechanical sprayer or by
manual pouring
5. Spreading of key aggregate – Key aggregate are spread over the bitumen uniformly
6. Seal coat is applied over the key aggregate layer
7. Finishing and opening to traffic – Surface is checked for cross profile and unevenness
index and opened to traffic after 24 hour
As Bituminous macadam
Materials required
Bitumen of grade 30/40, 60/70 or 80/100
Tar of grade RT4
Cutback or emulsion
Aggregate
Property Value
Los angeles value % 50%
Impact value % 35%
Water absorption % 1%
Construction procedure
1. Preparation of existing surface – Clean and level existing layer and prime coat bitumen
is applied
2. Premix preparation – Aggregate is premixed with bitumen as hot mix
3. Placing premix – Premix is placed and spread using rakes. Camber profile is
maintained properly
4. Rolling – Surface is rolled with until compacted and interlocked from edge to center
with overlapping
5. Finishing and opening to traffic – Surface is checked for cross profile and unevenness
index and opened to traffic after 24 hour
Inadequate drainage
Settlement of soil
1. Alligator cracking
4. Longitudinal crack
5. Frost heaving
7. Reflection cracking
Alligator cracking
Shear failure
4) Longitudinal crack
It is due to frost action and volume change in layers
It is also due to settlement and sliding of fill soil
5) Frost heaving
It is the localized heaving up of layers
It is due to frost action
7) Reflection cracking
It is the reflection of crack in lower layer on the top layer
It results in water seepage and mud pumping
2) Shrinkage crack
It is the formation of crack in transverse and longitudinal direction
It occurs during curing
3) Spalling of joint
It is due to faulty alignment of filler materials
4) Warping crack
Due to temperature stress developed due to the improper design of joints
It causes warping at the edges and results in cracking
5) Mud pumping
Due to the excessive repeated load
Soil slurry from the subgrade ejects out through the joints and cracks caused during the
downward movement of slab under heavy load
Subgrade soil losses and weakens which results in excess stress at the joints and cracks will
form