PRE-MIDSEM MOCK TRIAL II

SECTION A

1. Which of the following is not true about the sub-grade in a flexible pavement structure?
a) The sub-grade is the bottommost and weakest layer
b) The sub-grade extends to infinity in depth but not in lateral extent
c) When analysing the state of stress in the sub-grade induced by external loading, the
layer is assumed to have homogenous, isotropic and elastic properties.
d) Prevention of failure in the sub-grade under traffic loading influences the nature of the
pavement structure.

2. Rock aggregates of granitic origin used for road construction are always far superior in
quality than those of metamorphic origin.
a) True b) False

3. Rigid pavements reinforced with steel can carry more traffic load than those without steel
reinforcement.

a) True b) False

4. The CBR selected for the design of a new road was very close to the lowest CBR obtained
from sampling at several locations along the proposed alignment. What can be said about the
nature of the design traffic?
a) Light
b) Medium
c) Heavy
d) There is no way to know

5. In surface dressing operations, over application of binder on the base course is likely to
result in which type of surface defect?
a) Bleeding
b) Loss of cover aggregates
c) Streaking
d) Potholes

6. State one method by which dowel bars in rigid pavement construction may be
lubricated. Ans:

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7. A flexible pavement structure is to be designed to a reliability of at least 95% by the
AASHTO Method. What is the nature of the traffic anticipated during the life of the
pavement?
a) Light b) Medium c) Heavy d) No particular level of traffic

8. The strength of the sub-grade of flexible pavements and the level of traffic are not the only
parameters that dictate the thickness of the pavement required to prevent failure.
a) True b) False
9.

h1 E1=1200MPa
450mm Ee

285mm E2=400MPa

(a) (b)
Fig. 1
In Figure 1 above, the pavement structure in (a) has been transformed to the structure in (b)
using the method of equivalent modulus. Determine the following parameters associated with
the pavement structures:

i.
h1=

ii.
Ee=

10. Which characteristics of aggregates for road construction is the 10% Fines Test intended to
measure?
a) Particle size
b) Strength
c) Shape
d) Type of geologic origin

11. State the major purpose for the use of dowel bars in rigid pavement construction
Ans:……………………………………………………………………………….

12. How many pavement layers exist above the sub-grade in a flexible pavement structure
referred to as a “full depth pavement”?
Ans:

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13. Name the phenomenon in rigid pavements depicted by Fig. 2

Ans:

14. The average weight on the front and rear axles of a tipper truck along a haulage route are
5.9ton and 6.2ton, respectively. Compute the number of standard axles (ESALs) per pass of
the loaded truck.
Ans:

15. In pavement design, the CBR of a material used is the one obtained by testing the
material immediately after compaction at the optimum water content.
a) True b) False

16. Mention two characteristics of jointed plain concrete pavements that are not associated
with jointed reinforced concrete pavements.
i.
ii.

17. The structural number (SN) for the protection of the sub-grade of a full-depth gravel
pavement against failure under traffic loading is 3.6cm. If the gravel material used has a
structural layer coefficient, a=0.12 and a drainage coefficient, m=0.8, determine the
minimum pavement thickness required.
Ans:

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 SECTION B
QUESTION 1
a) A rigid pavement slab 4.8m x 8.5m and 50cm thick lies on a granular material whose
strength in terms of modulus of sub-grade reaction (k) is 65MN/m3. The slab has a linear
coefficient of thermal expansion of 9x10-6/oC, Poisson’s ratio of 0.15, E=40×103 MN/m2
and is subjected to a temperature differential of 2oC across its depth. Determine the
following for the slab:
i. Radius of relative stiffness
ii. Curling stress developed in both the X and Y-direction in the interior of the slab

b) Explain in simple terms how classified traffic counts are converted to design traffic.
c) The table below contains design lane traffic data in terms of axle configuration types in a traffic
survey for the structural design of a pavement.
Number in daily traffic
Axle Configuration ID Load Equivalency Factor Stream
1 1.642 67
2 2.015 73
3 2.876 40
4 5.312 32
Show by computation, the axle configuration type which contributes the most ESALs in the daily traffic
stream.

ANSWER

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QUESTION 2
a) Sketch the vertical stress distribution profile with depth under the center of load in a
continuum carrying a uniformly distributed load at the surface.
b) Based on the sketch in (a), explain why materials forming the different layers of a
flexible pavement differ in quality from top to bottom.
c) Mention 3 ways in which steel may be used in rigid pavements.
d) Explain why asphalt concrete roads deform more at toll booth locations than at any
other locations on the road.

ANSWER

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QUESTION 3
a) Complete the table below

TYPE OF SPACING REINFORCEMENT ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

b) The AASHTO flexible pavement design equation for a three-layer structure above the

𝑆𝑁 = 𝑎1𝐷1 + 𝑎2𝑚2𝐷2 + 𝑎3𝑚3𝐷3

Identify all parameters associated with the equation

The table below is the layer information about a flexible pavement designed to have three distinct
layers above the sub-grade.
Layer 1 Layer 2 Layer 3
Layer coefficient 0.50 0.18 0.15
Thickness (mm) 75 300 175

Drainage coefficient 1.00 0.80 0.60

i.
Determine the design structural number of the pavement according to the AASHTO
design procedure.
ii.
If the thickness of Layer 1 and Layer 2 are revised down to 100mm and 200mm
respectively. What should be the new thickness of Layer 3 so that the structural capacity of
the original design is maintained?

ANSWER

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QUESTION 4
a) Sketch the vertical stress distribution profile with depth under the center of load
in a continuum carrying a uniformly distributed load at the surface.
b) Based on the sketch in (a), explain why materials forming the different layers of
a flexible pavement differ in quality from top to bottom.
c) Why are rigid pavements not constructed as a layered structure?
d) Mention 3 ways in which steel may be used in rigid pavements.
e) What is the rationale for grading asphalt cements?
f) Explain why asphalt concrete roads deform more at toll booth locations than at
any other locations on the road.
g) The following equation is associated with rigid pavement slabs
γc L f a
σ c=
2
i. Identify all the parameters in the equation.
ii. Using the above expression, explain why Jointed Plane Concrete Pavements (JPCP) are
designed to have shorter lengths than Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavements (JRCP).

ANSWER

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