PAVEMENT

Types of Pavements
There are two types of pavements based on design considerations i.e. flexible
pavement and rigid pavement. Difference between flexible and rigid pavements is
based on the manner in which the loads are distributed to the subgrade.
Before we differentiate between flexible pavements and rigid pavements, it is better
to first know about them. Details of these two are presented below:

Flexible Pavements
Flexible pavement can be defined as the one consisting of a mixture of asphaltic or
bituminous material and aggregates placed on a bed of compacted granular material
of appropriate quality in layers over the subgrade. Water bound macadam roads and
stabilized soil roads with or without asphaltic toppings are examples of flexible
pavements.

The design of flexible pavement is based on the principle that for a load of any
magnitude, the intensity of a load diminishes as the load is transmitted downwards
from the surface by virtue of spreading over an increasingly larger area, by carrying
it deep enough into the ground through successive layers of granular material.

Thus for flexible pavement, there can be grading in the quality of materials used, the
materials with high degree of strength is used at or near the surface. Thus the
strength of subgrade primarily influences the thickness of the flexible pavement.

Rigid Pavements
A rigid pavement is constructed from cement concrete or reinforced concrete slabs.
Grouted concrete roads are in the category of semi-rigid pavements.

The design of rigid pavement is based on providing a structural cement concrete

slab of sufficient strength to resists the loads from traffic. The rigid pavement has
rigidity and high modulus of elasticity to distribute the load over a relatively wide
area of soil.

Minor variations in subgrade strength have little influence on the structural capacity
of a rigid pavement. In the design of a rigid pavement, the flexural strength of
concrete is the major factor and not the strength of subgrade. Due to this property
of pavement, when the subgrade deflects beneath the rigid pavement, the concrete
slab is able to bridge over the localized failures and areas of inadequate support
from subgrade because of slab action.

Difference between Flexible Pavements and Rigid Pavements

Sl. Flexible
Rigid Pavement
No. Pavement

It consists of a It consists of one

series of layers layer Portland
with the highest cement
1. quality materials concrete slab or
at or near the relatively high
surface of flexural
pavement. strength.

It reflects the It is able to

deformations of bridge over
subgrade and localized failures
2.
subsequent and area of
layers on the inadequate
surface. support.

Its stability Its structural

depends upon strength is
the aggregate provided by the
3.
interlock, pavement slab
particle friction itself by its beam
and cohesion. action.

4. Pavement Flexural strength

design is greatly of concrete is a
 influenced by major factor for
the subgrade design.
strength.

It distributes
It functions by a
load over a wide
way of load
area of subgrade
distribution
5. because of its
through the
rigidity and high
component
modulus of
layers
elasticity.

Temperature
variations due to
change in
Temperature
atmospheric
changes induce
6. conditions do
heavy stresses in
not produce
rigid pavements.
stresses in
flexible
pavements.

Flexible Any excessive

pavements have deformations
self healing occurring due to
properties due heavier wheel
7.
to heavier wheel loads are not
loads are recoverable, i.e.
recoverable due settlements are
to some extent. permanent.

A road surface or pavement is the durable surface material laid down on an area
intended to sustain vehicular or foot traffic, such as a road or walkway. In the
past, gravel road surfaces, cobblestone and granite setts were extensively used, but
these surfaces have mostly been replaced by asphalt or concrete laid on a
compacted base course. Asphalt mixtures have been used in pavement construction
since the beginning of the twentieth century.[1] Road surfaces are
frequently marked to guide traffic. Today, permeable paving methods are beginning
to be used for low-impact roadways and walkways. Pavements are crucial to
countries such as US and Canada, which heavily depend on road transportation.
Therefore, research projects such as Long-Term Pavement Performance are
launched to optimize the life-cycle of different road surfaces.

Load DistributionOverall, it may be somewhat confusing as to why one pavement is

used versus another. Basically, state highway agencies generally select pavement
type either by policy, economics or both. Flexible pavements generally require some
sort of maintenance or rehabilitation every 10 to 15 years. Rigid pavements, on the
other hand, can often serve 20 to 40 years with little or no maintenance or
rehabilitation. Thus, it should come as no surprise that rigid pavements are often
used in urban, high traffic areas. But, naturally, there are trade-offs. For example,
when a flexible pavement requires major rehabilitation, the options are generally
less expensive and quicker to perform than for rigid pavements.