CVNG 3009 HIGHWAY ENGINEERING 2009/2010 SEMESTER I EXAMS

Time allotted: 3 hours

Students are required to do 5 questions from 8, answering at least 2 questions from Section A and 2
questions from Section B.

The use of electronic calculators is permitted.

SECTION A

1. (a) Describe the main components of a suitable planning approach for a main road or
highway network in a typical Island State, and show how they should be integrated to
ensure the provision of safe, reliable and efficient travel for road users. [10]
(b) What are the essential traffic characteristics for the engineering design of a
roadway? How are they related and what role do they play in the classification and
configuration of a main road or highway, and in the level of service to be delivered? [10]
2. Write detailed notes on two of the following:
i) Road project appraisal; [10]
ii) Safety and the geometric design of roads and highways; [10]
iii) Channellisation and the efficiency of traffic flow. [10]

3 (a) The main road sector of a small Island State, comprising 753 km of paved roads,
is in need of rehabilitation. Three alternative intervention treatments have been developed
and the associated annual agency and user costs for one km of each treatment alternative
are given in Table 1. Using the Net Present Value and another economic indicator of your
choice, determine the best performing alternative for the next 20 years at a discount rate
of 12.0 %. [12]

Table 1. Costs per km of Treatment Alternatives ($)

Alternative Construction Cost Annual Maintenance Annual Road User

Cost Cost

1. Do minimum 0 991,100 11,753,294

2. Overlay 9,481,274 166,132 10,105,328

3. Reconstruction 14,132,968 109,116 9,112,406

3 (b) The alternatives in question 3 (a) above have a ranking and associated measures
of effectiveness according to Table 2. Using the computed Total Present Worth Cost
(TPWC) for the best performing alternative above as the measure of effectiveness for
 economic returns on investment, select the best alternative for implementation to service
the next 20 years. [8]

Table 2. Measures of Effectiveness and Rank

Objectives Rank Measures of Effectiveness (for Alternatives)

1. Do minimum 2. Overlay 3. Reconstruction

Service Life, yrs 1 2 9 12

Vehicle Emissions, 2 0.6 0.3 0.3

t/km/yr

Economic Returns, 3 (from 3.a) (from 3.a) (from 3.a)

TPWC

4 a) Describe briefly the traffic management options you would employ for the alleviation of
moderate and heavy traffic congestion respectively along a main road network. [10]

b) The population of a high-density urban centre that is exposed and susceptible to air
pollution from vehicle emissions is estimated at 224,196 persons. Recent traffic management
measures have resulted in a 36 percent reduction in pollution levels, and the unit economic value
of the pollution effect is valued at $232.74.00. For a typical slope of the dose-response function
of 0.089, determine the benefit of the reduced air pollution from vehicle emissions. [10]

SECTION B

5 Discuss in detail a pavement management system and components you consider suitable
for the management of a large road network.

6 The flexible pavement of a major four-lane highway is the essential carrier for both
commuter and commercial traffic and carries 62,000 vehicles per day in both directions.
The relatively free draining clayey subgrade soil has a CBR of 4 % and is saturated for 25
percent of the time, while the traffic has 67 % commercial vehicles with an ESAL of 1.68
per commercial vehicle and the average annual growth rate is 4.5 %. The remaining life
of the pavement structure shown in Figure 1 is 0.5 million ESALs. Using a standard
deviation of 3.0, Poisson’s ratio of 0.45 and the provided nomographic solution,
determine a reliable pavement strengthening measure required for the next 20 years of
service. Use a material layer coefficient ‘a’ for new asphalt concrete of 0.4.
 Figure 1. Pavement Structural Section (Q. 6)

7 Write short notes on four of the following:

i) Evaluation of road subgrades; [5]

ii) Aggregates for road construction; [5]

iii) Asphalt binders for use in road construction; [5]

iv) Pavement drainage; and [5]

v) Stabilisation of pavement layers. [5]

8. (a) Describe briefly the analytical methods you would employ in the quality control
and assurance of road construction works. [8]

(b) In the quality control operations on the construction of a new rigid highway
pavement, the 27 day concrete compressive strength is employed as the primary control
parameter. Historically, the 27 day concrete compressive strength has an associated
standard deviation of 3.5 %. The compressive strengths of good and bad quality concrete
are given in Table 3. Using a risk of 5 % for both contractor and client, determine a
suitable sampling plan for acceptance of the rigid concrete pavement. [12]

Table 3. Concrete 27 day Compressive Strength

27 Day Compressive Strength, Kpa

Good 285 299

Poor 176