What Do You Know About Pavement Design and Its Types? Also Differentiate Between Flexible and Rigid Pavement

What do you know about pavement design and its types?
Also differentiate between

Flexible and rigid pavement.
1. Flexible pavement is different from rigid pavement in terms of load distribution. In

flexible pavements load distribution is primarily based on layered system. While, in case
of rigid pavements most of the load carries by slab itself and slight load goes to the
underlying strata.
2. Structural capacity of flexible pavement depends on the characteristics of every
single layer. While, the structural capacity of rigid pavements is only dependent on the
characteristics of concrete slab. This is so, because of low bearing soil capacity of
underlying soil.
3. In flexible pavements, load intensity decreases with the increase in depth. Because of
the spreading of loading in each single layer. While, in case of rigid pavement maximum
intensity of load carries by concrete slab itself, because of the weak underlying layer.
4. In flexible pavement deflection basin is very deep, because of its dependency on the
underlying layers. While in case of rigid pavement, deflection basin is shallow, this is
because of independency of rigid pavement on the underlying layers.
5. Flexible pavement has very low modulus of elasticity (less strength). Modulus of
elasticity of rigid pavement is very high, because of high strength concrete and more
load bearing capacity of the pavement itself. Than compared to flexible pavements.
6. In flexible pavements, underlying layers play very important role. Therefore, more
role are playing only underlying layers. In case of rigid pavements, slight function of
underlying layers. Maximum role is playing by the top layer (that is slab) by itself.
Therefore, minute part is taking by sub layers.
Rigid pavement and Flexible pavement
1. Composition
 Flexible pavement are composed of properly graded aggregate with bitumen/ tar
as binder.
 Rigid pavements are constructed by using PCC- cement, aggregate, water and
dowel bars (for joints).
2. Stability
Rigid pavement
 Strength depends upon interlocking of aggregates, friction and cohesion.
Flexible pavement
 strength depends upon the flexural strength of place concrete.
3. Design
 Flexible materials are constructed in numbers of layers.
 Flexible road and flex asphalt are these having multi layer of poured concrete,
rock and asphalt
 Rigid Pavements are casted as a single concrete slab with reinforcement.
4 . Joints
 Flexible Pavement are laid continuously, hence there are no joints.
 Rigid Pavements are constructed in bays , hence joints and present
5. Cost
 (Flexible Pavement) initial cost is less and maintenance cost is more.
 (Rigid Pavements) initial cost are high and low maintenance costs.
5. Load Distribution
 (Flexible Pavement) load are distributed to underlying layers by grain to grain
action.
 (Rigid Pavements) load is distributed over a wider area of sub-grade due to its
rigidity and high elastic modulus.
6. Thermal Stress
 (Flexible Pavement) No thermal stresses developed due to temperature variation.
 (Rigid Pavement) thermal stresses developed leading to warping.
7. Traffic
 (Flexible Pavement) can be open to traffic after 24 hours.
 (Rigid Pavement) cab be open to traffic after minimum 14 days.
Flexible pavements have multiple (flexible) layers. They are usually consists of 5 layers
1. Asphalt Wearing Course

2. Asphalt Base Course
3. Aggregate Base Course
4. Subbase
5. Subgrade
All layers contribute to the strength of the pavement. Most of the pavements in the world are
flexible because they are economical and easily construct-able.
Rigid Pavements on the other hand consists of a concrete slab similar to that of roof slab
whose thickness consists of number of vehicles that will pass upon in the future. The concrete
slab is usually inserted upon subbase. In landslide prune areas and near toll plazas rigid
pavements are constructed.
Discuss in detail about standard AASHTO loadings for highway design?
The primary design parameter for highways are truck loadings . The American Association
of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), founded in 1914 as AASHO,
developed the concept of a train of trucks in the 1935 that imitated the railroad industry’s
standards. However, as the weight of the trucks grew, the bridges were overstressed.
In 1944, AASHTO developed a new concept: hypothetical trucks , called the H(with
twoaxles) and the HS(with three-axles) classes of trucks. These were fictitious trucks, used
only for design and they did not resemble any real truck on the road.
In 1975, the federal DOT upgraded the allowable gross weight fort rucks from 73,280 lb to
80,000 lb (although some states increased them to 90,000 lb).
A similar standard exis ts for Canada (the Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code, OHBDC),
or the United Kingdom, the BS5400 code. Europe has higher bridge loads, because they are
designed to carry heavier loads than the US, primarily military loads.

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What do you know about pavement design and its types?

Also differentiate between

1. Flexible pavement is different from rigid pavement in terms of load distribution. In

1. Asphalt Wearing Course

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