CHAPTER 1

QUESTION 1

a) The production process in a quarry can significantly affect the quality of

the aggregate by elimination of weaker rock layers and by the effect of
crushing on the particle shape and gradation of the aggregate. With the aid
of a flowchart, describe the process of rock quarrying and aggregate
production for pavement construction. (CO1-PO2)( (10 marks)

b) The following weight was obtained from a sieve analysis test result for a
HMA sample (Table Q1 (b)). Calculate the percentage retained and the
percentage passing of the aggregates for the HMA mix. Draw the gradation
curve using the 0.45 power chart (Appendix 1). Interpret and discuss the
results obtained by comparing with the gradation limit from the specification.
(CO1-PO2)(C2)
QUESTION 1

a) The production process in a quarry can significantly affect the quality of the
aggregate by elimination of weaker rock layers and by the effect of crushing on the
particle shape and gradation of the aggregate. With the aid of a flowchart,
describe the process of rock quarrying and aggregate production for
pavement construction. (CO1-PO2)(C3)

(10 marks)

b) The following weight was obtained from a sieve analysis test result for a HMA
sample (Table Q1 (b)). Calculate the percentage retained and the percentage
passing of the aggregates for the HMA mix. Draw the gradation curve using the
0.45 power chart (Appendix 1). Interpret and discuss the results obtained by
comparing with the gradation limit from the specification. (CO1-PO2)(C2)
CHAPTER 2
b) Penetration grade (e.g. PEN 80/100) and performance grade (e.g.
PG 64-22) are common methods for classifying and grading
asphalt binder. Differentiate between penetration grade
specification and performance grade specification in binder
classification including the tests required for each of these
classification methods.(CO1,PO3)(C4)
(10 marks)

b) Penetration grade (e.g. PEN 80/100) and performance grade (e.g.
PG 64-22) are common methods for classifying and grading
asphalt binder. Differentiate between penetration grade
specification and performance grade specification in binder
classification including the tests required for each of these
classification methods.(CO1,PO3)(C4)
(10 marks)
PENETRATION GRADED BINDERS
Test required :
Penetration test
Binders are graded either based upon
penetration or viscosity
Binders are graded based on tests
conducted at a particular critical test
temperature only
Past experience, empirical and semi-
empirical test results are used
Hardening and aging due to storage,
mixing, spraying, exposure and oxidation
are not considered
The properties of the binder at minimum
pavement temperature are not considered
The characteristics of flow and workability
during mixing of the binder are not
considered.
Visco-elastic properties are not much
considered.
There is no concept of aging of bitumen.
A suitable binder is selected using values
of penetration, viscosity, softening point
and based upon location.
PERFORMANCE GRADED BINDERS
Test required :
Dynamic shear rheometer
Binders are graded based upon pavement
temperature, which are close to in service
conditions of pavements
Binders are graded based on different
ranges of pavement temperatures similar to
field conditions
Purely scientific and performance based
studies are considered
Hardening and ageing during storage,
mixing, spraying, exposure and oxidation is
simulated by conducting RTFO and PAV tests
Susceptibility of the binder to lower
temperatures is carefully evaluated by
conducting BBR and DT tests
Flow, workability and viscosity properties of
the binder are determined at higher
temperature by using
Visco-elastic properties are determined by
using DSR.
Accelerated ageing of the binder up to 7 –
10 years is simulated using the PAV test
Final selection of a suitable grade of binder
is made after considering the location of the
construction site, maximum and minimum
design temperatures, design speed of
vehicles and number of equivalent standard
axle load repetitions.
CHAPTER 3
Hot In-Place Recycling (HIPR)
Commonly used for preventive maintenance operations –
Functional Repairs

HIPR process consists of FOUR steps

 Road Rehabilitation for existing roads with no
structural failure. On-site, in-place method that
rehabilitates deterioration asphalt pavements and
thereby minimizes the use of new materials
 Used to correct shallow surface distress and the
pavement is structurally sound, recycling depth of 1
to 2 inches
 Process involving heating, scarifying, reshaping the
materials and compacting the surface
 HIPR process consists of FOUR steps

 Softening of the asphalt pavement surface with heat

 Scarification and or mechanical removal of the surface
material
 Mixing of the material with recycling agent, asphalt
binder or new mix
 Laydown and paving of the recycled mix on the pavement
surface
A road is to be constructed at Route FT2, Section No. 210-215, Kuantan and the different
percentages of aggregates in the blend are 9, 31, 19, 39 and 2. The corresponding bulk
specific gravities of aggregates are 2.660, 2,654, 2.630, 2.622 and 2.615. Compute the
bulk specific gravity of the combined aggregates in the blend for use in AC14 HMA mix.
Draw the gradation of the combined aggregate using the 0.45 power chart. Discuss also
how gradation affects the properties of a HMA?. (CO2,PO3)(C3)
QUESTION 3

a) A good quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) programme

is essential to obtain a satisfactory pavement and good long term
pavement performance. The QC and QA activities are implemented
through site supervision, field testing and laboratory testing. Discuss
in detail the parameters to be checked on the quality of asphalt
mixture of the stated activities. (CO3, PO2) (C4).
(10 marks)

b) Road construction process involves many essential stages. The

process starts with selecting the location of a proposed highway from
the survey work, followed with earthwork operations and finally the
asphalt mix construction which involved design, mixing, laying and
compacting process. Explain the earthworks operation and the
equipment used in the earthwork construction stages. (CO3, PO2)
(C3).

(10 marks)
QUESTION 3

a) A good quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) programme

is essential to obtain a satisfactory pavement and good long term
pavement performance. The QC and QA activities are implemented
through site supervision, field testing and laboratory testing. Discuss
in detail the parameters to be checked on the quality of asphalt
mixture of the stated activities. (CO3, PO2) (C4).
(10 marks)

b) Road construction process involves many essential stages. The

process starts with selecting the location of a proposed highway from
the survey work, followed with earthwork operations and finally the
asphalt mix construction which involved design, mixing, laying and
compacting process. Explain the earthworks operation and the
equipment used in the earthwork construction stages. (CO3, PO2)
(C3).

(10 marks)
QUESTION 3

a) Site preparation is very important before any paving work is carried out. Discuss
the site preparation process and laying of asphalt prior to compaction.
During construction, self-propelled compactors are used to provide compaction
energy to the HMA mixtures. Why is compaction important and what is the
acceptable range of temperature for the compaction process? What
happens if the compaction temperature is (i) higher or (ii) lower than the
permissible compaction temperature? (CO2-PO3)(C4)
(14 marks)

b) In the production of hot mix asphalt (HMA) premix, a plant trial is conducted as
mentioned in Clause 4.2.4.3 (b) JKR/SPJ. A comprehensive sampling and testing
of asphalt is required to check for compliance with the job mix formula and
satisfactory degree of compaction. As the Site Officer of the construction project,
consider and decide the inspection procedures to be implemented. (CO2,PO3)
(C5)
(6 marks)
QUESTION 3

a) Site preparation is very important before any paving work is carried out. Discuss
the site preparation process and laying of asphalt prior to compaction.
During construction, self-propelled compactors are used to provide compaction
energy to the HMA mixtures. Why is compaction important and what is the
acceptable range of temperature for the compaction process? What
happens if the compaction temperature is (i) higher or (ii) lower than the
permissible compaction temperature? (CO2-PO3)(C4)
(14 marks)

b) In the production of hot mix asphalt (HMA) premix, a plant trial is conducted as
mentioned in Clause 4.2.4.3 (b) JKR/SPJ. A comprehensive sampling and testing
of asphalt is required to check for compliance with the job mix formula and
satisfactory degree of compaction. As the Site Officer of the construction
project, consider and decide the inspection procedures to be implemented.
(CO2,PO3) (C5)
(6 marks)
CHAPTER 4
QUESTION 5

a) Most highway agencies use either the American Society for Testing
Materials (ASTM) specifications or the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) specification for
specifying Portland cement quality requirements used in their projects.
Discuss the main types of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement and
describe their uses. Discussion shall include an appropriate sketch and
the problems that might exist for each type of pavement.
(CO3,PO3)(C3)
(10 marks)

b) A previous continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) located

along Kuantan – Kuala Terengganu LEBUH RAYA PANTAI TIMUR
(LPT2) is to be replaced with a new concrete pavement. You have
been engaged as a pavement engineer to propose a design for the
new concrete pavement. Determine the thickness of the concrete slab
for the jointed concrete pavement with the given design inputs: Design
reliability = 90%, Overall standard deviation, So = 0.39, Design traffic =
10 million ESALs in the design lane, Concrete flexural strength Sc =
700 psi, Concrete elastic modulus, Ec= 4,100,000 psi, elastic value of
subgrade, k-value = 100 psi/in, ∆PSI = 2, Cd = 1.05, J = 2.9 and Wt =
5.1x106. Use the relevant Figure in Appendix 2. (CO3,PO2)(C3)

(10 marks)
QUESTION 5

a) Most highway agencies use either the American Society for Testing
Materials (ASTM) specifications or the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) specification for
specifying Portland cement quality requirements used in their projects.
Discuss the main types of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement and
describe their uses. Discussion shall include an appropriate sketch and
the problems that might exist for each type of pavement.
(CO3,PO3)(C3)
(10 marks)

b) A previous continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) located

along Kuantan – Kuala Terengganu LEBUH RAYA PANTAI TIMUR
(LPT2) is to be replaced with a new concrete pavement. You have
been engaged as a pavement engineer to propose a design for the
new concrete pavement. Determine the thickness of the concrete slab
for the jointed concrete pavement with the given design inputs: Design
reliability = 90%, Overall standard deviation, So = 0.39, Design traffic =
10 million ESALs in the design lane, Concrete flexural strength Sc =
700 psi, Concrete elastic modulus, Ec= 4,100,000 psi, elastic value of
subgrade, k-value = 100 psi/in, ∆PSI = 2, Cd = 1.05, J = 2.9 and Wt =
5.1x106. Use the relevant Figure in Appendix 2. (CO3,PO2)(C3)

(10 marks)
CHAPTER 5

QUESTION 4
a) Selecting and proportioning of materials is very important to obtain the
desired mix design objectives of HMA mix. Based on the above statement,
determine the desired objectives of HMA mix and elaborate how these
properties affect the pavement? (CO1,PO2)(C5)
(12 marks)
a) A basic mix design philosophy is to design a HMA with optimum asphalt binder
content. Discuss the impact of asphalt binder on the mix design based on Figure
Q4 (b). Practically, asphalt binder tends to change with time and result in a loss of
performance due to ageing. Discuss the impact of TWO (2) main mechanism of
ageing for an existing pavement. (CO1,PO2)(C5)
Figure Q4 (b)
(8 marks)
• There are several properties that contribute to the quality
of asphalt mixture pavements.
• They include stability, durability, impermeability,
workability, flexibility, and fatigue resistance.
Ensuring that asphalt mixture has each of these
properties is a major goal of the mix design procedure.
• Therefore, it is a requirement that each of the properties
are measured, how the property is evaluated, and what
the property means in terms of pavement performance.
Stability of an asphalt mixture pavement is the ability of the mixture to
resist shoving and rutting under loads (traffic). The stability of a mix
depends on internal friction and cohesion. Internal friction among the
aggregate particles (inter-particle friction) is related to aggregate
characteristics such as shape and surface texture. Cohesion results from
the bonding ability of the binder. A proper degree of both internal friction
and cohesion in asphalt mixture prevents the aggregate particles from
being moved past each other by the forces exerted by traffic.
QUESTION 4

Selecting and proportioning of materials is very important to obtain the

desired mix design objectives of HMA mix. Based on the above
statement, determine the desired objectives of HMA mix and elaborate
how these properties affect the pavement? (CO1,PO2)(C5)

(12 mark
a) A basic mix design philosophy is to design a HMA with optimum
asphalt binder content. Discuss the impact of asphalt binder on
the mix design based on Figure Q4 (b). Practically, asphalt
binder tends to change with time and result in a loss of
performance due to ageing. Discuss the impact of TWO (2) main
mechanism of ageing for an existing pavement. (CO1,PO2)(C5)

Figure Q4 (b)

(8 marks)
QUESTION 4

a) Road maintenance comprises of “activities to keep pavement,

shoulders, slopes, drainage facilities and all other structures and
property within the road margins as near as possible to their as-
constructed or renewed condition” (PIARC 1994). Discuss why road
maintenance is important and outline the road maintenance
categories. (CO3, PO2) (C4).

(8 marks)

a) A pavement evaluation was conducted and the road authority has

decided that the pavement must be strengthened to overcome the
structural failure and it was also decided that a more environmentally
friendly and sustainable method is to be used to rehabilitate the road.
As an engineer, you are required to advise the contractor on the
recycling methods best applied for this project. Discuss the
recycling process including plants and materials involved and the
benefits of using the chosen technique. (CO3, PO2) (C5).
(12 marks)
 Jun 2017

QUESTION 4

a) Road maintenance comprises of “activities to keep pavement,

shoulders, slopes, drainage facilities and all other structures and
property within the road margins as near as possible to their as-
constructed or renewed condition” (PIARC 1994). Discuss why road
maintenance is important and outline the road maintenance
categories. (CO3, PO2) (C4).

(8 marks)

a) A pavement evaluation was conducted and the road authority has

decided that the pavement must be strengthened to overcome the
structural failure and it was also decided that a more environmentally
friendly and sustainable method is to be used to rehabilitate the road.
As an engineer, you are required to advise the contractor on the
recycling methods best applied for this project. Discuss the
recycling process including plants and materials involved and the
benefits of using the chosen technique. (CO3, PO2) (C5).
(12 marks)
 Jun 2017

QUESTION 5

a) The Public Work Department (PWD) received complaints from the

POROUS Asphalt
road users regarding water ponding on a stretch of road along Taman
Metropolitan. A number of accidents (rear end collision) also occurred
due to the slippery road surface. A site inspection carried out by PWD
found that the road drainage is satisfactory but found that there is a
problem with the road surface. As the road engineer for PWD, suggest
the type of surfacing to be used and discuss two (2) advantages
and two (2) disadvantages of using the type of surface. (CO3,
PO2) (C5).

(12 marks)

a) A pavement condition survey was conducted along Jalan Ilmu,

Seksyen 1. It was found that the road had potholes and has an
average PCI value of 60. The structural condition of the pavement was
found to be satisfactory. As an engineer, propose two (2) pavement
rehabilitation techniques to treat the road. Give your justification
for each technique chosen. (CO3-PO2) (C5).

(8
marks)
QUESTION 5
a) The Public Work Department (PWD) received complaints from the
road users regarding water ponding on a stretch of road along Taman
Metropolitan. A number of accidents (rear end collision) also occurred
due to the slippery road surface. A site inspection carried out by PWD
found that the road drainage is satisfactory but found that there is a
problem with the road surface. As the road engineer for PWD, suggest
the type of surfacing to be used and discuss two (2) advantages
and two (2) disadvantages of using the type of surface. (CO3,
PO2) (C5).
(12 marks)
a) A pavement condition survey was conducted along Jalan Ilmu,
Seksyen 1. It was found that the road had potholes and has an
average PCI value of 60. The structural condition of the pavement was
found to be satisfactory. As an engineer, propose two (2) pavement
rehabilitation techniques to treat the road. Give your justification
for each technique chosen. (CO3-PO2) (C5).
(8
marks)
1) Thin overlay
A thin overlay involves placing a thin layer of
asphalt mix over an existing pavement to
provide improved ride quality, reduce
pavement distresses, maintain surface
geometrics, reduce noise levels, reduce life-
cycle costs, and provide long-lasting service..
The thickness of the overlay is typically from
12.5-37.5 mm (0.5-1.5 in.). Thin overlays are
widely used as a technique for pavement
preservation or rehabilitation. They are
sometimes referred to as non-structural
overlays, which indicates that the purpose of
the overlay is simply to restore the pavement
surface, not to add structural support.
1) Slurry Seal
A slurry seal is a homogenous mixture of emulsified
asphalt, water, well-graded fine aggregate and
mineral filler that has a creamy fluid-like appearance
when applied. Slurry seals are used to fill existing
pavement surface defects as either a preparatory
treatment for other maintenance treatments or as a
wearing course. Microsurfacing is an advanced form
of slurry seal that uses the same basic ingredients
(emulsified asphalt, water, fine aggregate and
mineral filler) and combines them with advanced
polymer additives.