Welcome to the lecture!

Roadworks

Objectives of the lecture

To introduce the methods and techniques of road construction

Learning outcomes
By the end of the lecture, the student will understand: The methods and techniques of road construction The key considerations in the design and construction of roads

Roadworks - Outline

Earthworks Construction of pavement Equipment and plant Road geometry Conclusions

History of Highway Construction

Stem from invention of the wheel - Samaria 3000 BC. Earliest UK road - log raft over the Somerset peat bogs

Glastonbury 2500 BC. to

Romans- built 50,000 miles of road throughout Europe

- straight from hill top to hill top, less chance of ambush, wagons could not easily turn. - constructed above ground level (defence) - HIGHWAY. - 3 types depending on usage levelled earth, gravel and paved.

Britons had no need to travel, roads deteriorated, used for building material. foundation of large stones (sub base) supporting finer material.

Post Roman-

1765- John Metcalf road design included surface drainage and a good

1820- Macadam developed cheaper road with camber.

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Earthworks
Preparation of the soil to obtain the right: level gradient profile strength Cut and fill Concerns balance of cut & fill quantities side slopes treatment of compressible soil

Earthworks
Side slopes
Non-cohesive soils

Natural angle of repose

Cohesive soils

Height of bank

Earthworks
Treatment of compressible soil

Removal Blasting Overloading Jetting

Stabilisation Involves mixing the sub-grade with agents (cement, lime, bitumen, liquid chemicals) The objective is to increase the strength of the subgrade

Construction of pavements
Flexible pavements Elastic Three main layers
Surfacing Wearing course Base course Road base Sub base

Supported by Subgrade

Pavement Sub-grade
Strength of sub-grade determines thickness of

pavement needed Usually measured by the Californian Bearing Ratio (CBR) test If CBR of sub-grade is too low then ground improvements necessary

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Californian Bearing Ratio (CBR)

Type of soil Plasticity Index (%) CBR (%) Depth of water table from formation level More than 600 mm Heavy clay 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 2 2 2.5 3 5 6 7 2 Non-plastic Non-plastic Non-plastic 20 40 60 600 mm or less 1 1.5 2 2 3 4 5 1 10 15 20

Silty clay Sandy clay Silt Sand (poorly graded) Sand (well graded) Well graded sand gravel

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Construction of pavements

Rigid pavements

Rigidity does not deform under stress Concrete air entrained increases resistance to frost damage and de-icing salt corrosion Reinforcement may be bars or mesh. Continuous rigid pavements have heavy reinforcement Joints used in non-continuous pavements to allow for thermal movement. Includes a filler and surface sealant

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Construction of pavements
Rigid pavements laid as single layer by

concrete paver

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Construction of pavements
Surface water drainage Water causes damage and reduced skid resistance and should be removed as soon as possible Need an adequate surface drainage system Key issues: Intensity of rainfall; Size of catchment area; Duration of storm or time of concentration; and Permeability factor of the surfaces.

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Urban single carriageway

Rural single carriageway

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Road geometry

Standard size of traffic lane = 3.65m

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Equipment and plant

Excavate only
Ripper, Grader

Excavate and load

Back hoe / Back actor;Face shovel/ Forward loader; Dragline;Bucket wheel excavator

Haul and deposit

Lorries; Dump trucks; Conveyors

Excavate, load, haul and deposit

Bulldozer; Scraper; Elevated scraper

Compact
Smooth wheeled roller; Pneumatic roller; Vibratory roller

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Equipment and plant

Bulldozer

Planer

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Equipment and plant

Excavator

Wheel loader

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Equipment and plant

Dump truck Grader

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Equipment and plant

Paving machine

Chip spreader

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Equipment and plant

Dead weight roller

Vibratory roller

7 Wheel pneumatic roller

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Conclusions
Good roadworks ensure; Strong subgrade; Strong pavement layers; Adequate surface water drainage; and Appropriate road geometry.

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