CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

BMCS VI

L 01 - MATERIALS IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Contents

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Materials
1.2 Test on Materials
1.2.1 AIV
1.2.2 LAA
1.2.3 Gradation (Sieve Analysis)
2.0 Road Types in Sri Lanka
2.1 Flexible Pavement
2.1.1 Macadam Base
2.1.2 SBST
2.1.3 DBST
2.1.4 Asphalt Concrete
2.2 Rigid Pavement
2.2.1 Concrete
3.0 Materials Used for Different Road Types
1.0 Introduction

Since the invention of wheel was befallen, it can be considered as the beginning of the history
of road pavement construction. Since then (2000BC) the pavement types, requirements,
capacity and the materials used were changed seriously. There were many pavement types
such as;

 Roman Road Structure

 Tresaguest’ Pavement
 Telford Road
 Macadam Pavements
 BITULITHIC Pavements
 Concrete Pavements

But the current practiced pavement types are under three categories such as;

 Flexible Pavements – Pavement constructed using Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)

BITULITHIC type
 Rigid Pavements – Concrete Pavements
 Composite Pavements – Concrete Block Paved Roads

1.1 Materials

In road construction the materials used can be changed according to the road (pavement)
type. There are some common materials that used in road constructions as follows;

 Aggregate – can be further categorized according to the gradation.

 Soil – available with many variable properties and the material properties used can be
changed according to utilization.
 Bitumen – can be further categorized considering the setting time, viscosity and other
physical and chemical properties. And the usage of a particular category can be in
different stages of the construction according to their properties.
 Asphalt Concrete – is a mixture of aggregate, quarry dust and bitumen. And the
gradation used and the properties will be pre-designed.
 Concrete – produced using Portland Cement Concrete and the mix proportion will be
pre designed according to the requirements.

1.2 Test on Materials

1.2.1 AIV
Aggregate Impact Value test will determine a measurement of strength
which is expressed as the impact value of the aggregate.
The apparatus we used in this test is shown below.
 Figure 1.0

1.2.2 LAA
This is a laboratory test and done inside a sound proof room (due to
huge sound occurs). In this Los Angeles Abrasion test, we can
determine a value for toughness of the aggregate.

Figure 1.0

1.2.3 Gradation (Sieve Analysis)

Aggregate gradation will be done by doing a sieve analysis. In
practical use, the materials will be separated using a large sieve series
(screens) at the mixing plant.
 Figure 1.0

2.0 Road Types in Sri Lanka

2.1.1 Macadam Base

Macadam Base construction was practiced since 1823 AD and it shows little
respect for costly foundation. Normally this is having uniform pavement
thickness both the foundation and carriageway surfaces need good side drains.
The following figure shows a typical longitudinal section of a macadam base
pavement.

Two layers of 100mm thick broken stone (max 75mm size)

50 mm thick broken stone (max 25mm size)
0.75% slope

250mm

Sloped Sub Grade

Figure 2.0

There are main two types of Macadam Base pavements such as;

 Dry Bound Macadam Base

 Water Bound macadam Base

Dry Bound Macadam Base

 50mm or 37.5mm single sized aggregate choked with non-plastic fines

(passing 5mm sieve) vibrated into the interstices
 Suitable for areas where large crushers are not available to obtain
graded aggregates
  Manually broken aggregate can be used
 Labour intensive technique
 Need to import crusher dust

Water Bound Macadam Base

 50mm or 37.5mm aggregate choked with fines passing 5mm by

watering, rolling and compacting to form a dense mass
 Crusher dust needs to be imported

2.2 Flexible Pavement

A flexible pavement will be consisted of sevaral layers and each one will take the load
from above layer. And then the load will be distributed and transferred to the lower
layer. So the pavement will deflect under loading and the load will be transferred
closely as uniformly.

Figure 1.0

2.2.1 SBST
2.2.2 DBST
2.2.3 Asphalt Concrete
2.3 Rigid Pavement
2.3.1 Concrete
3.0 Materials Used for Different Road Types

A.K.S. de Alwis (B.Sc. Engineering)