Characteristics and Suitability of Different Highway Pavement Types

Highway pavements are categorized into three structural types: rigid pavement, flexible pavement, and semi-rigid pavement, each with distinct characteristics and suitability.

Rigid pavements are constructed using cement concrete, typically comprising concrete slabs connected by joints. They offer high load-bearing capacity, durability, and low maintenance costs, making them ideal for highways, main roads, airport runways, and port industrial areas with heavy traffic. However, rigid pavements are costly to construct, require a strong foundation, and are prone to joint damage due to uneven settlement. The construction period is long, and repairs are difficult and expensive.

Flexible pavements primarily use asphalt materials, consisting of layers of asphalt-treated or untreated aggregate bases, and various asphalt surface layers. They have advantages such as fast construction, early traffic opening, easy maintenance, comfortable driving experience, and low noise, making them suitable for urban roads, parking lots, and low-grade roads. However, they have relatively lower load-bearing capacity, are susceptible to damage from temperature changes, and have poor water resistance, leading to potholes and loose surfaces under water damage, affecting stability and durability.

Semi-rigid pavements combine the features of both rigid and flexible pavements, using stabilized materials (cement, lime, or industrial waste slag with hydraulic binders) as the base, with an asphalt concrete surface layer. They offer strong load-bearing capacity, good water and temperature stability, high durability, and good crack resistance. They are suitable for medium to heavy traffic roads, especially in areas with soft soil foundations. However, they require high standards for material mix, compaction, and foundation load-bearing capacity, making construction complex and quality critical. Repairs are complicated and costly.

In highway construction, selecting the appropriate pavement type requires considering local economic conditions, climate, and available construction materials, as well as the specific project characteristics, to achieve optimal performance and economic efficiency.