Lab. No.

1
Introduction to Highway Lab.

Engr. Hasnain,
Highway & Traffic Engineering Lab.
hasnain@cecos.edu.pk
syedshahhasnain@gmail.com
Student’s Introduction
• Name:

• City/District:

• Why Civil Engineering?

• Skills:

• Hobbies:

• Future Plans (CE related):

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 2

 Transportation

• Transportation (in U.S.), or Transport

(in U.K.) is the movement of humans,

animals, and goods from one place to

another.

• Modes of transport include air, water,

and land (road and rail).

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 3
Highway vs. Motorway
• All public roads are highways. The name originally meant that they had been

constructed higher than the surrounding land to allow for drainage.

• Motorways are limited access highways. Access is limited to motor vehicles

only. They are not normally accessible from minor roads, but usually only from

major roads via graded intersections.

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 4

Flexible vs. Rigid Pavement

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 5

Flexible vs. Rigid Pavement (cont …)

S. No. Characteristic Properties Flexible Pavement Rigid Pavement

1 Composition Aggregate + Bitumen (binder) Aggregate + Water + Cement (binder) +

Dowel Bars (for joints)
2 Stability Strength depends upon interlocking of Strength depends upon the flexural strength
aggregates, friction and cohesion. of the concrete placed.

3 Joints Laid continuously, no joints Joints are present in special cases.

4 Cost
5 Load Distribution
6 Thermal Stress
7 Duration required to open after
construction
Less initial cost, but high maintenance High initial cost, but less maintenance cost
cost
Load is distributed to underlying layers by Load is distributed over a wider area of sub-
grain to grain action. grade due to its rigidity and high elastic
modulus.
No thermal stresses are developed due to Thermal stresses are developed in rigid
temperature variation. pavements.
It can be opened for traffic after 24 hours It is opened for traffic after minimum 14 days
of construction. of construction.

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 6

Bitumen vs. Asphalt
• Bitumen: A black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons obtained naturally or as a
residue from petroleum.

• Asphalt: A mixture of dark bitumen with sand or gravel (aggregates).

• In Sub-Continent and Europe, Asphalt = Aggregate +Bitumen = Paving Material.

• In United States, Asphalt = Black Viscous Liquid.

• Asphalt Concrete: Asphalt, Asphalt Cement: Bitumen.

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 7

Components of Bitumen
• Bitumen is a mixture of about 300-2000 chemical components. Elementally, it is:

i. around 95% carbon and hydrogen,

ii. up to 5% sulphur,

iii. 1% nitrogen,

iv. 1% oxygen, and

v. 220 ppm (parts per million) metals like nickel and vanadium etc.

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 8

 Physical Properties of Bitumen
1. It is soluble in carbon disulphide.

2. Bitumen is normally heated to > 140°C (284°F) to become liquid to facilitate transportation and handling.

3. It is thermoplastic solids or semi-solids at ambient (surrounding) temperature. i.e. they soften as the temperature
increases and harden as the temperature decreases.

4. At elevated temperature they behaves as Newtonian liquids, the viscosity reduces with increasing temperature,
while at lower temperatures it behaves as Non-Newtonian fluid. (Concrete: Non-Newtonian liquid).

5. Bitumen is also visco-elastic material, i.e. they behave as elastic solids at short loading times and as viscous liquids
at longer loading times.

6. Polar molecules in bitumen lead to bitumen having an affinity to aggregates, providing a material that is adhesive,
and also waterproof.

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 9

Thickness & Compaction of F.P. Layers

Surface/Wearing Course (1 – 4 in, 100%)

Base Course (4 – 12 in, 100%)

Sub-Base Course (4 – 12 in, 98%)

Sub-Grade Course (6 – 12 in, 95%)

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 10

Hierarchy of Roads

Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 11

BRT Peshawar
• The work on this projected was started on 29th October, 2017 and

has inaugurated on 13th August, 2020.

• There are three phases in BRT Peshawar, i.e.

1. Chamkani to Bala Hissar Fort,

2. Bala Hissar Fort to University Town, and

3. University Town to Karkhano Industrial Estate.

• Total length: 27 km.

(Overhead bridge/flyovers: 11 km. & Underground road: 3 km.).

• Four bus depots (Chamkani, Dabgari Garden, Mall of Hayatabad,

Karkhano Market)

• Bus Stations: 32 and total Buses: 220*

(18 m long buses: 65, & 12 m long buses: 155).

*different sources show different numbers. Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 12
Home Assignments
1. What are the thickness of rigid pavement layers?

2. What are the differences between motorway and expressway?

3. Why is BRT important for Peshawar?

4. What are flyovers? List the names of flyovers of Peshawar.

5. What were the problems before constructing Bab-e-Peshawar flyover?

6. What is Prime coat, Tack coat, and Seal coat?

7. What are super-elevation, camber, cross slope, long slope, and gradient (permissible limits)?

8. What are cross section, long section, plan, layout, elevation, top view, and side view?
Engr. Hasnain, CECOS 13