What purpose does each layer of flexible pavement

serve?
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2 Answers

Dana M Dietz, Over 26+ years designing roadways

Answered May 13, 2017
Flexible pavement, as its name says, is flexible. It moves, or flexes, under loading. Hot
mix asphalt (HMA) is an example of flexible pavement.

A flexible pavement generally consists of 3 layers (not including multiple lifts). The
picture below is from Pavement Interactive showing the Surface Course, the Base
Course and the Subbase Course. There is also subgrade, which is below subbase and
plays an important role. Subbase is not always used.

The design of flexible pavement relies heavily on the entire structural section, meaning
the subgrade, subbase, base and surface course. Under loading, the flexible pavement
transfers and spreads the loading downward and outward. For this reason, the base
course and subbase course (if used) and subgrade must be well compacted and have the
ability to handle the additional loading. The strength of flexible pavement relies on all
layers, especially the subgrade.

Rigid pavements, such as concrete pavement, do not rely as heavily on the lower base
material because it can bridge the material. The strength of rigid pavement is in the
concrete itself.

Flexible pavements are not heavily stressed by temperature variations. It is designed to

be flexible and move. Rigid pavement does not do as well under temperature variations.

Flexible pavement can be “self-healing” to some extend under heavy loads and stresses.
Rigid pavement will fail if the load or stress is too much.

Flexible pavement can be patched. Rigid pavement generally cannot be patched, but
must be repaired. For this reason, where there are numerous underground utilities, it is
much better to have flexible pavement that can be replaced quickly.
Fexible pavement tends to cost less in the short term, but may not last as long as ridid
pavement if it is not well maintained.

Now, in your question, you talk about flexible pavement consisting of 6 things.

Embankment is generally what we refer to when we need to use borrow to


build up the roadway or slopes.
 Subgrade can actually be embankment material, or native material. Subgrade
plays a major role in the support structure of flexible pavement. As I previously
mentioned, the loading is transferred through each layer down to subgrade.
The flexible pavement gets quite a bit of its strength from subgrade, subbase,
and base materials. If they are not compacted properly, it weakens the flexible
pavement.
 Subbase is often a mechanically stabilized material. Subbase is not always
used.
 Base material is typically something like a 3/4″ aggregate, or a material that is
free draining and can be well compacted.
 I don’t necessarily agree with your 2nd and 1st components. While the top 2
lifts can be made of these materials, it is not always the case.
There are various types of flexible asphalt pavement that are used for various purposes.

stone matrix

open graded

dense graded

Stone Matrix

Stone matrix is gap graded hot mix asphalt. The picture below shows the difference
between conventional and gap graded stone matrix asphalt.

What you can see in the picture above is that the large stones tend to have more contact,
or interaction with each other. This makes it more resistant to rutting or wear from
studded tires. It doesn’t deform nearly as much as the other types, which is why it is
resistant to rutting. It is very durable. Its strength relies mainly on the interaction
between the aggregate and less on the asphalt binder properties.

Stone matrix is not permeable to water. This gap graded mix combines coarse aggregate
with some sands and mineral filler.

Stone matrix asphalt tends to cost more because it requires strong aggregates and a
higher asphalt content, as well as modified asphalt binder and fiber. It is cost effective
when you take into consideration its durability and resistance to rutting.

Stone matrix is almost always used as a surface course, or wearing course, or driving
surface on interstates due to its cost and durabi...

(more)
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Nitish Bharadwaj, Research Associate at Confederation of Indian Industry

Answered May 31, 2016
Flexible pavements are frequently analyzed as a multi-layer system under
loads.Typically, a flexible pavement consists of a surface layer with an underlying base
and sub-base.

Each of the layers contributes to the structural support and drainage of the pavement,
but when hot mix asphalt is used as the surface course, it usually contributes the most to
pavement strength, since it is the stiffest (high resilient modulus) layer. There is a
special type of flexible pavement called “Perpetual Pavement” that uses premium HMA
(hot mix asphalt) mixtures to obtain a long-life structure that can support heavier traffic
loads. This type of pavement can last up to 30 years or more if it is maintained properly.
The typical section for a perpetual pavement has a thickness of about 20 inches total.

The Thickness varies according to the life of the project.

The thickness also varies in accordance with the weight/load distribution required. Load
distribution would play an important role in deciding and maintaining life of the
pavement.