Introduction:

Basically, all hard surfaced pavement types can be categorized into two
groups, flexible and rigid. Flexible pavements are those, which are surfaced
with bituminous (or asphalt materials. !hese can be either in the form of
pavement surface treatments (such as a bituminous surface treatment (B"!
generally found on lower volume roads or, #$% surface courses (generally
used on higher volume roads such as the Interstate highway networ&. !hese
types of pavements are called 'flexible' since the total pavement structure
'bends' or 'deflects' due to traffic loads. % flexible pavement structure is
generally composed of several layers of materials, which can accommodate
this 'flexing'.
Basics of Flexible (avements:
% flexible pavement structure is typically composed of
several layers of materials. )ach layer receives the loads from the above
layer, spreads them out, and then passes on these loads to the next layer
below.
Basic structural elements:
!he typical flexible pavement structure consisting of:
Surface course: !his is the top layer and the layer that comes in contact
with traffic. It may be composed of one or several different #$%
sublayers.
Base course: !his is the layer directly below the #$% layer and generally
consists of aggregate (either stabilized or unstabilized.
Limerock Base Course Undergoing Final Grading
Subbase course: !his is the layer (or layers under the base layer. %
subbase is not always needed.
Requirements of bituminous mixes:
!he mix design should aim to an economical blend,
with proper gradation of aggregates and ade*uate proportion of bitumen to fulfill the
desired proper +ties of the mix. Bituminous concrete or asphalt concrete is one of the
highest and costliest types of flexible pavements layers used in the surface course .!he
desirable properties of a good bituminous mix are stability, durability, flexibility, s&id
resistance and wor&ability.
,. "ufficient stability to satisfy the service re*uirements of the pavement and the traffic
conditions, without undue displacements,
-. "ufficient bitumen to ensure a durable pavement by coating the aggregates and
bonding them together and also by water proofing mix.
.. "ufficient voids in the compacted mix as to provide a reservoir space for a slight
amount of additional compaction due to traffic and to avoid flushing, bleeding and loss of
stability.
/. "ufficient flexibility even in the coldest season to prevent crac&ing due to repeated
applications of traffic loads.
0. "ufficient wor&ability while placing and compacting the mix.
1. !he mix should be most economical one that would produce a stable, durable and s&id
resistant pavement.
Types of Mixes:
!he typical types of mixes in flexible pavement design that can be
used are as follows:
Dense-Graded Mixes: % dense+graded mix is a well+graded #$% mixture
intended for general use. 2onstructed, a dense+graded mix is relatively
impermeable. 3ense+graded mixes are generally referred to by their nominal
maximum aggregate size. !hey can further be classified as either fine+graded or
coarse+graded. Fine+graded mixes have more fine and sand sized particles than
coarse+graded mixes.
Purpose: 3ense+graded mixes are suitable for all pavement layers and for all
traffic conditions. !hey wor& well for structural, friction, leveling and patching
needs.
Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA Mixes: "tone matrix asphalt ("$% is a gap+
graded #$% that is designed to maximize deformation (rutting resistance and
durability by using a structural basis of stone+on+stone contact. Because the
aggregates are all in contact, rut resistance relies on aggregate properties rather
than asphalt binder properties. "ince aggregates do not deform as much as asphalt
binder under load, this stone+on+stone contact greatly reduces rutting. "$% is
generally more expensive than a typical dense+graded #$% (about -4 + -0
percent because it re*uires more durable aggregates, higher asphalt content and,
typically, a modified asphalt binder and fibers. In the right situations it should be
cost+effective because of its increased rut resistance and improved durability.
Purpose: Improved rut resistance and durability. !herefore, "$%
is almost exclusively used for surface courses on high volume roads.
!pen-Graded Mixes: %n open+graded #$% mixture is designed to be water
permeable (dense+graded and "$% mixes usually are not permeable. 5pen+
graded mixes use only crushed stone (or gravel and a small percentage of
manufactured sands.
There are three types of open-"raded mixes:
Open-graded friction course (OGFC).
orous !uropean mi"es (!#).
$sp%alt treated permeable bases ($&B).
Purpose: OGFC and !# + 6sed as for surface courses only.
!hey reduce tire splash7spray in wet weather and typically result in smoother
surfaces than dense+graded #$%. !heir high air voids trap road noise and thus
reduce tire+road noise by up to 04+percent.
#lexible Pa$ement Re%y%lin":
It is an environmental friendly techni*ue
and helps conserve precious stoc&s of roc& aggregates and depleting petroleum
resources. #$% recycling can be divided into two basic categories based on
the recycling methods used: hot recycling and cold recycling. !his section
presents the basic recycling process as well as typical uses and considerations for
each of these recycling methods.
&ot Re%y%lin": #ot recycling is so named because 8%( is used as an aggregate
in #$% (hot mix asphalt. In hot recycling, old #$% pavement is removed,
bro&en down into aggregate+sized chun&s and then incorporated into new #$% as
an aggregate. !here are two basic methods for accomplishing this: conventional
recycled hot mix (8#$ and hot in+place recycling.
'old Re%y%lin": 2old plant mix recycling, the less common of the two cold
recycling methods, involves mixing 8%( with an asphalt emulsion or foamed
asphalt at a central or mobile plant facility. % re9uvenating agent can be added to
improve the recycled asphalt binder viscosity and new aggregate can also be
added to improve overall performance. !he resulting cold mix is then typically
used as a stabilized base course.
Perpetual Pa$ements:
:(erpetual (avement; is a term used to describe a long+
lasting structural design, construction and maintenance concept. % perpetual
pavement can last 04 years or more if properly maintained and rehabilitated.
%s $ichael <unn pointed out in ,==>, flexible pavements over a minimum
strength are not li&ely to exhibit structural damage even when sub9ected to
very high traffic flows over long periods of time. #e noted that existing
pavements over about .?4 mm (,/.0 inches should be able to withstand an
almost infinite number of axle loads without structural deterioration due to
either fatigue crac&ing or rutting of the subgrade. 3eterioration in these thic&,
strong pavements was observed to initiate in the pavement surface as either
top+down crac&ing or rutting. Further, it is found that most #$% pavements
thic&er than about ,14 mm (1.. inches exhibit only surface+initiated top+
down crac&ing. !herefore, if surface+initiated crac&ing and rutting can be
accounted for before they impact the structural integrity of the pavement, the
pavement life could be greatly increased.
8esearchers have used this idea as well as pavement
materials research to develop a basic perpetual pavement structural concept.
!his concept uses thic& asphalt over a strong foundation design with three
#$% layers, each one tailored to resist specific stresses these are:
'#$ base la(er.
)ntermediate la(er.
*earing surface.
@ashington "tate (erpetual (avements:
@ashington "tate has a significant length of nationally recognized
(erpetual (avement. In -44-, I+=4 in @ashington "tate was awarded one of the inaugural
%sphalt (avement %lliance (%(% (erpetual (avement %wards. 2riteria for this award
included: the nature of the original designA the overall *uality of the pavementA the
absence of structural failuresA the condition of any long+lasting overlaysA the existence of
a history of low overall maintenanceA the nature of the efforts that were made to minimize
traffic disruptions during resurfacingA and other factors. "ince their construction in the
early to mid ,=?4s, all the flexible sections of I+=4 are still performing well and none
have re*uired reconstruction ($ahoney, -44,.
AD(A)TAG*S !# &+G& P*R#!RMA)'* ,+)D*RS !(*R
'!)(*)T+!)A- ,+T.M*)
!he conventional bituminous mixes have been found inade*uate to provide durable
performance in terms of rutting, crac&ing fatigue and in arresting reflection crac&ing for
pavements carrying heavy traffic. !he use of high performance modified bitumen and
compositionally controlled bitumen in construction and maintenance of flexible
pavement is latest, logical, economical approach. !hese binders allow building strong and
longer lasting pavements to meet re*uirements of heavy traffic and extreme climatic
conditions. !he range of high performance materials include polymer and rubber
modified bitumen and emulsions, multigrade binders, high modulus mixes etc.
!hese binders have following advantages over conventional bitumen.
#igh performance binders reduce permanent deformationA this is particularly at
elevated pavement temperature.
#igh performance bitumenBs increase resistance to fatigue , resulting in a strong
and more durable pavement
(romotes binder cohesion and adhesion to aggregate preventing reveling and
stripping
%lso extends pavement service life by 04C to ,44C when compared to
conventional asphalt concrete.
8eduction in thic&ness of overlay is possible due to high elastic modulus
2onclusions:
!here is an urgent necessity to have performance based specification
and use of innovative high performance materials for construction of
bituminous pavements
By improving strength and durability of mixes both reduction in layer
thic&ness and increase in life can be brought.
8ecycling of flexible pavements helps to conserve precious stoc&s of
roc& aggregates and depleting petroleum resources.
2onventional bituminous mixes have been found inade*uate to
provide durable performances.
"$F is generally most expensive than the typical dense graded #$%.
8eferences
% (erspective of flexible pavement design D construction D practice
+ ". 2. "harma
Indian #ighways, Eol. -> Fanuary -444
Importance of performance based specifications for material D design of
payment.
Indian #ighways, Eol. -? %ugust ,===
A,STRA'T
!he growing traffic volume on roads and increasing
demand for stronger, more durable and safer pavements have led to the search
for new materials, design procedures and more cost efficient solutions. %s a
result, more innovations in design procedures and construction techni*ue are
ta&ing place. %n extensive networ& of highways and airfields constructed with
long lasting pavements is essential to the growth of an economy, which
depends largely on efficient transportation for commercial, business and
personal uses
Flexible pavements are most common type of construction.
% number of factors including climatic and traffic loading influence the
performance of flexible pavement.
+)D*/
Introduction ,
Flexible (avement Basics -
Basic "tructural )lements -
8e*uirements of Bituminous $ixes .
!ypes of $ixes /
Flexible (avements 8ecycling 1
(erpetual (avements ?
%dvantages 5f #igh performance binders over
conventional Bitumen =
2onclusion ,4
8eferences ,,