ASSIGNMENT 3 1.

0 THE LIMITATION OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS Are those pavements which reflect the deformation of subgrade and the subsequent layers to the surface. Flexible, usually asphalt, is laid with no reinforcement or with a specialized fabric reinforcement that permits limited flow or repositioning of the roadbed underground changes. i. The design of flexible pavement is based on load distributing characteristic of the component layers. The black top pavement including water & gravel bound macadam fall in this category. ii. Flexible pavement on the whole has low or negligible flexible strength flexible in their structural action). The flexible pavement layers transmit the vertical or compressive stresses to the lower layers by grain transfer through contact points of granular structure. iii. The vertical compressive stress is maximum on the pavement surface directly under the wheel load and is equal to contact pressure under the wheels. Due to the ability to distribute the stress to large area in the shape of truncated cone the stresses get decreased in the lower layer. iv. As such the flexible pavement may be constructed in a number of layers and the top layer has to be strongest as the highest compressive stresses. v. To be sustained by this layer, in addition to wear and tear, the lower layer have to take up only lesser magnitude of stress as there is no direct wearing action die to traffic loads, therefore inferior material with lower cast can be used in the lower layers. Other limitation: 1. Deformation in the sub grade is transferred to the upper layers 2. Design is based on load distributing characteristics of the component layers 3. Have low flexural strength 4. Load is transferred by grain to grain contact 5. Have low completion cost but repairing cost is high 6. Have low life span 7. Surfacing cannot be laid directly on the sub grade but a sub base is needed 8. No thermal stresses are induced as the pavement have the ability to contract and expand freely 9. Thats why expansion joints are not needed 10. Strength of the road is highly dependent on the strength of the sub grade 11. Rolling of the surfacing is needed 12. Road can be used for traffic within 24 hours 13. Force of friction is less Deformation in the sub grade is not transferred to the upper layers.

2.0 2.1 i. ii. 2.2 i. ii. iii. iv. 2.3 i. ii. iii.

THE ADVANTAGES OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS Greenhouse Emissions Bitumen is a hydrocarbon but unlike other hydrocarbons (e.g. Petrol, diesel, oil) it is not burnt to produce energy. Instead it is used to make durable, safe and long lasting road surfaces. The bitumen used in flexible pavements does not release greenhouse. Reuse/recycling The material used in flexible pavements may be reused and recycled. In the US the asphalt industry reuses and recycles nearly 100 million tonnes of its own product each year. Over time the wearing (top) course of pavement may become damaged or worn. When this occurs this layer can be removed using a milling machine and a new surface can be applied. The material removed can be returned to an asphalt plant and combined with new material to be used in another road project. Flexible pavements are fully recyclable. Energy savings Vehicles travelling on smooth, well maintained surfaces reduce fuel consumption. US studies have shown that vehicles travelling on these roads consume up to 4.5% less fuel compared to rough pavements. Lower fuel consumption reduces costs for motorist and reduces greenhouse emissions. Asphalt pavements are laid smooth and stay smooth throughout their life. When maintenance is required, the top wearing course can be readily and cheaply replaces with little disruption to traffic, reducing congestion and saving fuel. Flexible pavements provide smooth, safe surfaces and minimize fuel consumption. Road safety Flexible pavements give vehicle tyres a superior road surface, providing both quality of ride and high friction. The surface friction characteristics can also be readily maintained through resurfacing without the need to reconstruct whole road. Properly maintained flexible pavements increase road safety, giving safe, and comfortable travel. Noise Reduction The interaction between tyres and road surfaces generates noise, particularly when these are large volumes of fast moving traffic. The noise can be very disturbing to occupants of vehicles as well as to those living or working nearby. Asphalt surfaces are low noise surfaces compared to other surfaces. Low noise asphalt surfaces can result in a reduction in noise equivalent to having the traffic volume or reducing the traffic speed by 25%. Quiet surfaces can be applied as the last step in road construction or added as an overlay to an existing road, even to non-asphalt surfaces. The noise absorbing properties of specially designed asphalt remain effectively undiminished over time. Flexible pavements reduce noise. Wet roads Wet roads can significantly increase the risk of collision due to the reduced visibility caused by water spray and the lowering of friction on a wet surface. Flexible pavements can reduce spray and maintain effective skid resistance. Open graded asphalt provides pathways for water to run-off, minimising the amount of water between the tyre and road. High textured flexible pavements also significantly reduce glare as well as water spray. Flexible pavements increase safety in the wet.

iv. 2.4 i. ii. iii. 2.5 i. ii. iii. iv.

v. 2.6 i. ii. iii. iv.