When running a road construction project, project organizers must consider several key factors to support the concept of sustainable development. Among these important factors are traffic flow, safety, drainage, and pavement structure.
In general, road pavement structures can be divided into two main categories, namely flexible pavement and rigid pavement.
Both have their own advantages, and their use can be customized according to project needs. Yet, when it comes to sustainable development, rigid pavement is a reliable solution.
But what exactly is rigid pavement? This article will discuss the ins and outs of rigid pavement, from its definition, structure, application examples, to its advantages. To get a thorough understanding, check out the explanation in this article!
What Is Rigid Pavement?
Rigid pavement is a type of pavement that uses concrete as its main material. So, the term rigid describes the characteristics of concrete that are strong and have high durability in resisting weight and damage.
With this strength, rigid pavement is often used in infrastructure construction projects that have heavy traffic and heavy loads, such as toll roads, airports, and industrial areas.
Rigid Pavement Structure
Generally, rigid pavement is composed of four layers. The main components in the rigid pavement structure are:
1. Common Embankment
Common embankment or embankment soil serves as the basic foundation for the layers above it. Because it acts as a foundation, this structure must be strong and stable. This can be achieved by choosing good materials, compacting layer by layer, proper drainage, and strict supervision.
Common embankment structures are generally made using compacted soil or rocks. The manufacturing process involves heavy equipment such as graders to spread the soil, then vibro rollers and sheep feet to compact it.
2. Drainage Layer
The drainage layer structure functioned to drain water out of the pavement system so that no puddles occurred under the concrete slab and did not damage the road body. This structure has a thickness of about 15 cm.
The drainage layer is made using coarse aggregate, which is gravel or broken stone gained from the stone crushing industry. The aggregate commonly used in toll road projects is class A aggregate, which has a density of up to 100%.
Read also: Concrete in Construction: Learn the Functions and Types!
3. Lean Concrete
Lean concrete, or commonly called concrete rebates, is a buffer layer that serves to provide additional support for the layers above it and prevent soil shifting. The purpose of this layer is not strength, but stability. Therefore, the composition of cement used is relatively lower, which is less than 10% when compared to ordinary concrete.
To make lean concrete, workers usually use a mixture of cement, sand, and gravel in a ratio of 1:3:5. When finished, the lean concrete layer generally has a thickness of 10 cm.
4. Rigid Pavement
Rigid pavement is the top layer that receives loads from road users or vehicles directly. Therefore, this layer must have high resistance to pressure, friction, and weather changes.
The rigid pavement layer is generally made of P-grade concrete with a thickness of 29 cm. The rigid pavement tools commonly used are Wirtgen and G&Z (Guntert & Zimmerman), which are known as advanced heavy equipment for rolling and compacting concrete.
Read also: How Much Does 1 Truckload of Ready-Mix Cost? Check Here!
Application of Rigid Pavement
Rigid pavement is usually applied to roads with heavy traffic or heavy vehicles. Some examples of rigid pavement applications include the following:
- Toll roads.
- Roads in urban areas.
- Airport runways.
- Harbor.
- Parking lots.
- Roads in areas with unstable soil conditions.
- Flyovers.
- Roads in industrial areas.
- Roads in areas prone to inundation.
Advantages of Rigid Pavement
When compared to other types of pavement, rigid pavement has a number of advantages that make it reliable for road construction project organizers. Here are some of the advantages of rigid pavement:
1. Longer Life
Rigid pavement has a relatively long-term usage, which can reach 20 to 40 years. If the project objectives are long-term, then rigid pavement is the right choice because its lifespan is much longer than flexible pavement, which generally ranges from 10-15 years.
2. Low Maintenance Cost
Since it is made from concrete, which is highly resistant to damage, rigid pavement does not require frequent maintenance. As a result, the cost allocated for maintenance can also be minimized.
3. Equal Load Distribution
The use of concrete slabs in this type of pavement allows the distribution of traffic loads equally to the layers below. This reduces the risk of local deformations, such as depressions, cracks, dents, or bulges in the road.
4. Capable of Resisting Waterlogging and Flooding
Rigid pavement has a relatively high resistance to waterlogging and flooding. This advantage makes rigid pavement very suitable for being applied in areas prone to flooding or have high rainfall. However, this type of pavement still requires a good drainage system.
5. Optimal Surface Quality
Apart from being stronger, rigid pavement also has a visually flatter and smoother surface. This can certainly provide a more comfortable driving experience and reduce the risk of wear and tear on vehicles.
Read also: Concrete Grade: Types and Classification Table
That’s all about what rigid pavement is, its structure, application, and advantages. As mentioned earlier, rigid pavement uses concrete as the main ingredient of the process. If you use good-quality concrete and optimize other supporting factors, then you can further minimize the risk of damage to the project.
Therefore, make sure to choose high-quality concrete that suits your project needs. You can choose a trusted producer, namely Semen Merah Putih. For road construction projects, Semen Merah Putih offers a solution product in the form of Ready Mix Concrete.
Ready mix concrete is a type of concrete that greatly facilitates the performance of your project. How could it not be so? By using Ready Mix Concrete by Semen Merah Putih, there is no longer a need for processing in the construction area. Semen Merah Putih has 4 superior ready mix concrete products, one of which is Flexiplus.
Semen Merah Putih Flexiplus is suitable for projects that require high structural strength and long-term durability. In addition, with an appropriate setting time, Flexiplus supports ease of workmanship and flexibility of use in various weather conditions and project types.
Flexiplus is available in 3 types that can be customized according to the needs, namely GU (general use) type for general use, MS (moderate sulfate) type for sulfate resistance, and HE (high early strength) type for high early strength requirements.
Interestingly, if you are committed to creating a more environmentally friendly and sustainable construction project, Flexiplus is an essential element that cannot be missed. This is because Flexiplus uses low carbon emissions.
Furthermore, you can contact us now to get information about Flexiplus or other Semen Merah Putih products. We are ready to provide the best solution with guaranteed quality.
