Pavement Stiffness:

Pavement Stiffness describes how much the pavement is displaced under the external force: the smaller
the resulting displacement, the stiffer the pavement.
Stiffness is usually characterized by the ratio of the stress (force per unit area) to the corresponding
displacement (also known as deflection). In mechanics, this ratio is called modulus. The larger the
modulus, the stiffer the pavement.
Pavement stiffness is necessary to be measured to make sure that the pavement satisfies the
specifications.
The overall stiffness can be measured directly by using a light weight deflectormeter (LWD)

Pavement Design:

Flexible pavement design

Flexible pavements are so named because the total pavement structure defects, or exes, under loading.
A flexible pavement structure is typically composed of several layers of materials. Each layer receives
loads from the above layer, spreads them out, and passes on these loads to the next layer below. Thus
the stresses will be reduced, which are maximum at the top layer and minimum on the top of sub grade.
In order to take maximum advantage of this property, layers are usually arranged in the order of
descending load bearing capacity with the highest load bearing capacity material (and most expensive)
on the top and the lowest load bearing capacity material (and least expensive) on the bottom.

Rigid pavement design

As the name implies, rigid pavements are rigid i.e, they do not ex much under loading like flexible
pavements. They are constructed using cement concrete. In this case, the load carrying capacity is
mainly due to the rigidity ad high modulus of elasticity of the slab (slab action). H. M. Westergaard is
considered the pioneer in providing the rational treatment of the rigid pavement analysis.
Pavement evaluations:

i. Pavement evaluations are carried out to determine the functional and structural
conditions of a highway section either for purposes of routine monitoring or planned
corrective action.
ii. At the network level, routine evaluations can be used to develop performance models and
prioritize maintenance or rehabilitation efforts and funding
iii. At the project level, evaluations are more focused on establishing the root causes of existing
distress in order to determine the best rehabilitation strategies.

Pavement maintenance:
The main function of Pavement maintenance is to upgrade or preserve the condition of a highway
segment above some minimum requirement.

Pavement maintenance concerns the action of keeping a road in a state of good repair. It includes
monitoring pavement health, addressing and fixing delamination, cracking, and potholes, and
maintaining proper pavement lane markings and striping

There are various pavement maintenance techniques either they are corrective or preventive, these
techniques include the use of overlays, seal coats, pothole repair, crack sealing, etc.