Types of Pavements - Flexible Pavement / Rigid Pavement

Following are the two main types of pavements:

1. Flexible pavement
2. Rigid pavement
Flexible pavement:
Are those pavements which reflect the deformation of subgrade and the subsequent
layers to the surface?
Rigid pavement:
The rigid characteristic of the pavement are associated with rigidity or flexural
strength or slab action so the load is distributed over a wide area of subgrade soil.
Flexible pavement:
Definition

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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 due
to traffic loads. Therefore, inferior material with lower cast can be used in the lower
layers.

Rigid pavement: Definition

The rigid characteristic of the pavement are associated with rigidity or flexural
strength or slab action so the load is distributed over a wide area of subgrade soil.
Rigid pavement is laid in slabs with steel reinforcement.
 The rigid pavements are made of cement concrete either plan, reinforced
or prestressed concrete.
Critical condition of stress in the rigid pavement is the maximum flexural stress
occurring in the slab due to wheel load and the temperature changes.
Rigid pavement is designed and analyzed by using the elastic theory.

Advantages of Rigid Pavement

1. Rigid lasts much, much longer i.e. 30+ years compared to 5-10 years of flexible pavements.
2. In the long run it is about half the cost to install and maintain. But the initial costs are
somewhat high.
3. Rigid pavement has the ability to bridge small imperfections in the subgrade.
4. Less Maintenance cost and Continuous Traffic and Flow.
5. High efficiency in terms of functionality.

Comparison of Flexible and Rigid Types of Pavements

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
1. Deformation in the sub grade is not transferred to
4. Load is transferred by grain to grain
subsequent layers
contact
2. Design is based on flexural strength or slab action
5. Have low completion cost but repairing
3. Have high flexural strength
cost is high
4. No such phenomenon of grain to grain load transfer
6. Have low life span
exists
7. Surfacing cannot be laid directly on the
5. Have low repairing cost but completion cost is high
sub grade but a sub base is needed
6. Life span is more as compare to flexible
8. No thermal stresses are induced as the
7. Surfacing can be directly laid on the sub grade
pavement have the ability to contract
8. Thermal stresses are more vulnerable to be induced as
and expand freely
the ability to contract and expand is very less in concrete
9. That’s why expansion joints are not
9. That's why expansion joints are needed
needed
10. Strength of the road is less dependent on the strength of
10. Strength of the road is highly
the sub grade
dependent on the strength of the sub
11. Rolling of the surfacing in not needed
grade
12. Road cannot be used until 14 days of curing
11. Rolling of the surfacing is needed
13. Force of friction is high
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.
Composition and Structure of Rigid Pavement
Rigid pavements support loads through rigidity and high modulus of elasticity of

concrete slab. The loads will distribute to natural soil layer through different layers of

rigid pavement. The composition and structure of rigid pavement tells us about the

function of each layer of rigid pavement as explained below.

Composition of Rigid Pavement

In general, Portland cement concrete is used as primary structural element for rigid

pavement. The reinforcement is provided in the slab depending upon the soil strength

and loading conditions. Pre-stressed concrete slabs can also be used as surface

course. The concrete slab usually lies on a compacted granular or treated subbase,

which is supported, in turn, by a compacted subgrade. Better results of pavement are

obtained when the support layers under the pavement are uniform. The strength of rigid

pavement is Rigid pavement is mostly depends upon the concrete slab so, it should be

laid strongly while the bottom layers are constructed using low cost materials to make it

economical.
Structure of Rigid Pavement
The structure of a rigid pavement consists following layers.

 Concrete slab or surface course

 Granular base or stabilized base course
 Granular subbase or stabilized subbase course
 Frost protection layer
 Subgrade soil

Concrete Slab
The concrete slab is the top most layer of rigid pavement which is in direct contact with

the vehicular loads. This is also called as surface course. It is water resistant and

prevents the water infiltration into the base course. It offers friction to the vehicles to

provide skid resistance. The thickness of concrete slab is kept between 150 mm to 300

mm.
Granular Base or Stabilized Base Course
The base course or granular base or stabilized base is the second layer from the top

and is constructed using crushed aggregates. This course helps the surface course to

take additional loads. It provides stable platform to construct rigid pavement it is also

useful to provide sub surface drainage system. In frost areas, the frost action can be

controlled by the stabilized base course. It helps to control swelling of subgrade soil.

The base course thickness should be minimum 100mm.

Granular Subbase or Stabilized Subbase Course
It is the third layer from the top and is in contact with the subgrade soil and base course.
It is constructed by using low quality aggregates than the base course but they should
be better quality than subgrade. Generally subbase course is not required when the
traffic loading is light. When the loading exceeds 100000 pounds it should be
constructed. Its primary function is to provide support for the top layers and it also
serves as frost action controller and prevents the intrusion of fines from subgrade to top
layers. The drainage facility will also improve when there is a subbase course.
Frost Protection Layer
In low temperature regions there is a problem of frost action on the pavements. If the
soil contains high ground water table, during low temperatures the water will freeze and
frost heave will formed under the subgrade which will cause the pavement to rise
because of non-uniform formation of ice crystals. Similarly, when the ice melts the
pavement will penetrate into the subgrade when load comes on it. To overcome this
frost protection layer should be provided. Generally a good base course and subbase
course themselves acts as frost protection
layers.

Fig 6: Formation of Ice Crystals in Frost-Susceptible Soil

Subgrade Soil
The subgrade is nothing but the existing soil layer which is compacted using equipment
to provide stable platform for rigid pavement. The subgrade soils are subjected to lower
stresses than the top layers since the stresses will reduce with depth. Subgrade soils
may vary considerably. The stresses coming from the top layers is received by different
soils in different manners. Some soils may resist them and some may not. It is depends
upon the interrelationship of texture, density, moisture content and strength of
subgrade. So, proper examination should be done on subgrade before construction. At
the same time the pavement layers above the subgrade should be capable of reducing
stresses imposed on the subgrade soil to prevent the displacement of subgrade soil
layers.