Element 2: Design Pavement Structures
Road pavements are engineered structures designed to:
Support traffic loads.
Protect the subgrade.
Provide safe and comfortable riding surfaces.
Minimize maintenance costs.
Achieve desired service life.
A pavement is a structural system consisting of layers that work together to distribute traffic
loads to the underlying soil.
Reasons for Pavement Failure
- Poor Traffic Estimation: Underestimating traffic results in Rutting, Cracking and
Premature failure
- Weak Subgrade: Weak soils deform under repeated loading.
- Poor Drainage: Water causes Loss of strength, Erosion, Potholes, Settlement
- Poor Construction Materials: Low-quality materials reduce pavement life.
- Poor Workmanship: Improper compaction causes failure.
Resources Required For Pavement Design
a. Design Manuals
Kenya Road Design Manuals include Road Design Manual Part III, Pavement Design Manual
and Materials Testing Manuals. International References include AASHTO Guide, TRRL Road
Notes and Austroads Manual
Functions of Road Design Manuals
Provide standards.
Provide design procedures.
Ensure consistency.
b. Survey Data
The purpose of this data is to determine terrain characteristics and establish alignment.
The information required from survey data usually includes:
Topographic maps
Longitudinal profiles
Cross sections
Coordinates
c. Traffic Data
Traffic data is used to determine:
Traffic volume
Traffic composition
Growth rate
Design traffic
d. Geotechnical Reports
These contain:
Soil classifications
CBR values
Moisture content
Compaction characteristics
e. Computer Software
Common examples include:
- AutoCAD Civil 3D which is used for alignment design, drawing profiles and cross-
sections
- MX Roads usually used for Geometric design
- Microsoft Excel for traffic and quantity calculations
- GIS Software used for mapping and spatial analysis
F. Field Equipment such as:
GPS
Total Station
Automatic Level
Measuring Tapes
Cameras
Environmental considerations in pavement design
When carrying out pavement design a designer should consider:
- Minimizing Earthworks. Reducing excavation reduces fuel consumption and
environmental disturbance
- Preserving natural drainage i.e avoid obstructing watercourses.
- Protecting vegetation i.e minimize clearing.
- Promoting recycling by using Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement and Recycled aggregates
Traffic Data Used In Pavement Design
- Traffic determines pavement thickness. Pavement design is impossible without traffic
information.
- Traffic information collected includes:
Average Daily Traffic (ADT)
Vehicle classification
Axle loads
Growth rates
Traffic Surveys and Estimation of Design Traffic
- Traffic loading is the most important design variable in pavement engineering.
Pavements do not fail because vehicles are numerous; they fail because of repeated axle
loading.
Types of Traffic Surveys
- Traffic Volume Survey which measures the number of vehicles using the road.
- Classified Traffic Count which separates vehicles into categories such as motorcycles,
cars, light goods vehicles, medium trucks, heavy trucks and trailers
- Axle Load Survey to measures actual axle loads. This is conducted using Static
Weighbridges or Weigh-in-Motion Systems
Pavement Types and Selection
The pavement type selected determines:
Construction cost
Maintenance requirements
Service life
Performance
Flexible pavement
Flexible pavements consist of layers of granular materials topped with bituminous surfacing.
Load transfer occurs through particle interaction. Typical layers in flexible pavements are:
1. Surface Course
2. Base Course
3. Sub-base
4. Subgrade
In flexible pavements wheel load spreads with depth. Therefore, stress decreases downward. The
strongest materials are thus placed near the top.
Advantages
Lower initial cost
Faster construction
Easy maintenance
Disadvantages
Sensitive to water
Higher maintenance
Shorter service life
Rigid Pavement
Rigid pavements are constructed using Portland Cement Concrete. Load transfer occurs through
slab action.
Advantages
Long life
Lower maintenance
Excellent performance under heavy traffic
Disadvantages
High initial cost
Longer construction time
Difficult repairs
Composite pavement
This is a combination of flexible and rigid pavements. This can be asphalt overlay on concrete or
concrete overlay on asphalt.
Pavement Type Selection Criteria
- The factors that affect selection of pavement type are:
- Traffic: Heavy traffic generally favors rigid pavements.
- Subgrade Strength: Weak soils may require thicker flexible pavements.
- Climate: Rainfall affects drainage requirements.
- Availability of Materials: Local availability reduces costs.
- Cost: Both initial and life-cycle costs should be evaluated.
- Environmental Impact i.e. Carbon footprint, recyclability, sustainability