LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS OF CEMENT CONCRETE ROADS Vs BITUMINOUS ROADS

By -M.Srinivasan.

BACKGROUND

6% of Indias economy for next 20 years depends on efficient

roads.

NH carry 40% traffic on barely 2% length of total road network. Development programme (NHDP) for upgrading arterial roads. In next 5 years, projects worth 1,75,000 crores proposed by G.O.I.

So, right choice to choose comparatively more beneficial to nation

Indias arterial road system:

I.

Golden quadrilateral

-6300kmPhase 1

II.

North-south and East West corridors-7300km Phase 2

High density corridors of NH to give connection to ports and state capitals -10000km-Phase 3

III.

IV.

All remaining NH to be made 2 lanes -phase 4

Expressways-1000km phase 5 Widening of GQ road project from 4 lane to 6 lane Phase 6 Construction by-passes and bridges upto 2012 Phase 7

V.

VI.

VII.

Types of pavements

Flexible pavement -layers of granular materials and bituminous materials on top.

Rigid pavement -cement concrete pavement laid on a prepared subbase.

COMPARISION
According to this paper:

Currently Flexible pavement has been preferred choice due to low initial cost But, there is Scarcity and rising prices of bitumen 70% of crude oil has to be imported Initial cost of concrete pavement is more by 10-20% over flexible pavement In life cycle, concrete is proved to be economical

CONTINUATION

Selection criteria of type of pavement should not based on the initial cost of construction. But, also consider the life cycle cost (maintenance &overlay cost) And also, vehicle operating cost (voc) and fuel saving on rigid pavement compared to flexible pavement

INITIAL COST

Cost of construction depends on pavement thickness Then governed by the strength of sub grade soil & traffic loading, cost of materials and execution of the work

MAINTENANCE COST

Cost includes maintenance of pavement during design period to keep the pavement at the specified level.

LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS

Carrying out by life cycle cost (LCC) analysis Includes initial investment cost & maintenance cost

Economic analysis includes presents worth, annualized cost, and rate of return
More sensitive to the inflations, discount rate, and analysis period Comparative cost of one kilometer of each pavement at current market rate

FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT DESIGN AND COST OF CONSTRUCTION PER KM:

Design depends on

CBR value of sub grade

cumulative number of commercial number that will use the road 15-20 years for NH and Expressways

Based on IRC:37-2001 and its cost for 2-lane road having CBR value 5 & traffic of 75 msa:
GSB
WMM DBM BC TOTAL

300MM
250MM 150MM 40MM 740MM

@Rs. 800
@Rs. 1200 @Rs. 3100 @Rs. 3500

Rs.240 /sq.m
Rs.300 /sq.m Rs.465 /sq.m Rs.140 /sq.m Rs.1145/sq.m

The cost of the above payment will thus be about Rs.80 lakh per km.

MAINTENANCE COST OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT

Assumed, bituminous overlays will be on 10TH,20th & 30th years after construction of road having 75 mm DBM +40 mm BC

As per MORTH, surface renewals once in 5 years of 25 mm BC Repairs for 2 lane NH road @1.20 lakh per year as per MORTH norms

RIGID PAVEMENT DESIGN AND COST OF CONSTRUCTION PER KM:

Depends upon CBR value of sub grade Design axle load

Cumulative repetition of commercial vehicles during design life(30 years)

As per IRC:58-2002 for a 2-lane NH road

TYPE OF THICKNESS LAYER RATE TOTAL RATE

GSB
DLC (M10) PQC (M40)

150mm
100-150mm 280-300mm

@Rs.800
@Rs.2000 @Rs.3500

Rs.120/sq.m
Rs.250/sq.m Rs.1050/sq./ m

TOTAL

530-600mm

Rs.1420/sq.m

Maintenance Cost Of Rigid Pavement

Maintenance cost is rigid pavement will be Rs.50,000/km for a 2-lane NH Includes to cover filling of sealing compound in the joints Repairs of concrete spalling Surface retexturing once in 15 years

USERS COST

It consists of VOC

Time costs of passengers

Commodities in transit Accident cost In this analysis, only VOC is considered VOC consist of wear & tear of vehicles, fuel, lubricants, depreciation and fixed costs

Roughness index of bituminous surface is 2000mm/km Riding deteriorates with traffic and reaches 4000mm/km But, cement concrete surface is maintained almost throughout the life

VEHICLE OPERATING COST (VOC) is calculated:

VOC per year (Rs) = (No. of vehicle per day * 365*VOC) (Rs/km) for roughness value of 2000 and 3000 mm/km for rigid and flexible pavement Applying a factor of 1.22(updated from Road user cost data, New delhi)

CONCLUSIONS

Initial cost of concrete pavement is Rs.20lakh/km(25%) higher over the initial cost of flexible pavement Life cycle cost of concrete pavement for maintenance cost is Rs.18lakh/km (16%) less compared to flexible Life cycle cost includes maintenance, VOC and fuel saving cost is Rs.252.62lakh/km (16%) less compared to flexible pavement From above advantages about 30% length of new pavement of GQ under NHDP has been constructed with concrete pavement & 15% in NSEW corridors

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