without much variation in slab thickness. The effect of subgrade soil properties on the thickness of rigidpavement is therefore much less important than in the case of flexible pavement.
Layered Structure of Flexible Pavement
Surface Course
In a typical conventional flexible pavement, known as
asphalt pavement,
the surface course usually consists of two bituminous layers — a wearing course and a binder course. To provide a durable,watertight, smooth-riding, and skid-resistant traveled surface, the wearing course is often constructed of dense-graded hot mix asphalt with polish-resistant aggregate. The binder course generally has largeraggregates and less asphalt. The composition of the bituminous mixtures and the nominal top sizeaggregates for the two courses are determined by the intended use, desired surface texture (for the caseof wearing course), and layer thickness. A light application of tack coat of water-diluted asphalt emulsionmay be used to enhance bonding between the two courses.Table 62.1 shows selected mix compositions
listed in ASTM Standard Specification D3515 [1992]. Open-graded wearing courses, some with air voidexceeding 20%, have also been used to improve skid resistance and reduce splash during heavy rainfallby acting as a surface drainage layer.
Base Course
Base and subbase layers of the flexible pavement make up a large proportion of the total pavementthickness needed to distribute the stresses imposed by traffic loading. Usually base course also serves asa drainage layer and provides protection against frost action. Crushed stone is the traditional materialused for base construction to form what is commonly known as the
macadam base course.
In thisconstruction, choking materials consisting of natural sand or the fine product resulting from crushingcoarse aggregates are added to produce a denser structure with higher shearing resistance. Such basecourses are called by different names, depending on the construction method adopted.Dry-bound macadam is compacted by means of rolling and vibration that work the choking materialsinto the voids of larger stones. For water-bound macadam, after spreading of the choking materials, wateris applied before the entire mass is rolled. Alternatively, a wet-mix macadam may be used by premixingcrushed stone or slag with a controlled amount of water. The material is spread by a paving machine
TABLE 62.1
Example Composition of Dense Bituminous Paving Mixtures
Mix Designation and Nominal Maximum Size of AggregateSieve Size2 in.(50 mm)1
½
in.(37.5 mm)1 in.(25.0 mm)3/4 in.(19.0 mm)1/2 in.(12.5 mm)3/8 in.(9.5 mm) 2
½
in.100 — — — — —2 in.90–10090–100100 — — —1
½
in. — 90–100100 — — —1 in.60–80 — 90–100100 — —3/4 in. — 56–80 — 90–100100 —1/2 in.35–65 — 56–80 — 90–1001003/8 in. — — — 56–80 — 90–100No. 417–4723–5329–5935–6544–7455–85No. 810–3615–4119–4523–4928–5832–67No. 16 — — — — — —No. 30 — — — — — —No. 503–154–165–175–195–217–23No. 100 — — — — — —No. 2000–50–61–72–82–102–10
Note:
Numbers in table refer to percent passing by weight.
Source:
ASTM, Standard Specification D3515-84,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards,
Vol. 04.03 —Road and Paving Materials; Travelled Surface Characteristics, 1992. With permission.
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