The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad researchers have developed models and computational simulation studies that can predict the performance of road surfaces or pavements and compare these predictions with conventional road designs. Their work has been recently published in the Journal of Transport Engineering, a reputed peer-reviewed journal.
This research offers a route to accurate prediction of pavement performance, which can help in construction of long-lasting roads in India.
Speaking about the importance of this research, Professor Sireesh Saride, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, said: “The pavements are complex layered structures influenced by many factors such as material properties, environmental and climatic conditions, traffic volume, subgrade soil profile, construction practices, and pavement aging process. Hence, transportation agencies require innovative techniques to address the variabilities associated with the influencing factors.”
“The advantages of flexible pavements are that they are adaptable to stage-wise construction, can be made of low-cost materials and can be easily opened and patched,” Dr Saride adds. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the Government of India aims to construct 65,000 km of national highways by 2022. Such ambitious projects would benefit from studies such as those conducted by Dr Saride and his colleagues.