University of Kirkuk

College of Engineering

Civil Department

Comparison Between Flexible and Rigid Pavements

Presented by the Student: Baxan Nashat Zamn

Stage: Fourth

Supervised by: Mr. Diyar Nadhim

Deliver Date: Wednesday, April21.2021

Group: (A)

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Flexible Pavement
Bituminous or asphalt aggregates are used to apply this pavement. The structure of
the pavement is designed to bend and deflect according to external factors like
traffic loads and the weather. Essentially, flexible pavement is more adaptable to
the elements to which it’s exposed.

The initial cost of mixing and applying flexible pavement is low and with excellent
regular maintenance, it has a lifespan of about 10-15 years. Flexible pavement is
applied in extremely thick layers, which gives it the ability to withstand heavy and
more frequent traffic flows, which makes it the ideal choice for major roadways
and highways.

Since regular maintenance is required for this type of pavement, repair work is
fairly easy. Many companies that offer pavement services prefer to work on these
types of roads at night or during off-peak hours because of the amount of traffic
they attract.

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Rigid Pavement
Rigid pavements are generally more expensive and difficult to install and maintain.
They’re made out of a cement concrete with a base and sub base. Unlike flexible
pavement, rigid pavements have a high flexural strength, making every layer
virtually immune to bending under pressure.

There’s no grain to grain load transferring, which essentially means that the top
layer of concrete absorbs most of the pressure and weight from traffic or any other
external factors. Rigid pavements are also less susceptible to permanent or semi-
permanent oil and grease stains.

One of the downfalls of installing a rigid pavement is that the installation is very
costly, but the cost of maintenance is reasonable. Considering you’re getting a
durable product that’s sure to last a long time, this is certainly a worthwhile
investment.

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Advantages of Flexible Pavement
 Can be applied during pre-construction stage
 Repairs are easy and it can be opened and patched
 Materials are inexpensive
 Frost heave and settlement can be easily repaired
 Resists ice glaze formation
 Short curation time means short traffic and business disruptions
 No joints required during installation

Advantages of Rigid Pavement

 Longer lifespan
 Maintenance costs are low
 Allows for future asphalt resurfacing
 Allows for wider load distribution with fewer base and sub base
requirements
 Can be installed on low- and high-quality soils
 Strong edges that don’t require additional edging work or curbs
 Resistant to damage from oil spills and chemicals