GREEN PAVEMENT
In recent years, several areas of the country are facing the problem of reduced groundwater table which is directly affecting the production of crops. This is a very serious situation for the country as the production of crops is reduced and the cost is increased. Also, due to inadequate drainage facilities, the stormwater runoff is not drained properly in the event of a flood. This results in flash flooding, destruction of fertile land, and the functioning of roadways and pathways get blocked. Since it is not very cost-effective to provide an expensive stormwater management solution in rural areas so there is a need to develop a sustainable design to reduce the strain on our environment and for the well-being of society. Pervious concrete is a relatively new concept in the field of pavements and is a mixture of coarse aggregate, water, and cement. Due to the presence of a large number of voids, it has high permeability and thus allows water to pass through it at a high rate. It has widespread pavement applications in Europe where it is being used in parking lots, walkways, sideways and low volume traffic roads. In a developing nation like India, it can be a very useful tool to reduce frequent floods and manage stormwater runoff.
Indian road network consisting of both paved and unpaved surfaces is the world’s second-largest road network. Roads are vanes of country and are the backbone for economic development. In India, construction materials used for roads are bitumen and concrete. Concrete pavements are having a very small share of roads. Now the interest in concrete pavement construction is growing due to its durability, strength, and economy in long run.
The concept of green pavement and sustainable development is at its peak these days. More and more efforts are being done to make thinner and green pavements to carry heavy loads. Construction and rehabilitation of pavements produce construction and demolition waste which can be recycled to produce pavement quality concrete thus, decreasing the use of fresh natural aggregates and impact over the environment. Recycling reclaimed asphalt pavement for producing pavement quality concrete will be beneficial for agencies, contractors, and most importantly for the environment. The present study aims at, developing pavement quality concrete mixtures incorporating reclaimed asphalt pavement as partial replacement of coarse aggregates. The aim is to design slab thickness of PQC pavement using the achieved flexure strength of the concrete mixtures for different percentages of replacement of coarse aggregates with reclaimed asphalt pavement. It is found out that the maximum increase in flexural strength and compressive strength is for 10% reclaimed asphalt pavement.
Er. Rajesh Kumar
- DCE, B.E. (Civil), M.E. (Structure)
- Chartered Engg.
- MEMBER -COUNCIL OF ENGINEERS & VALUERS (CEV)
- Jalandhar -144008 (Punjab)
