Geotechnical Engineering in Transportation and Pavement Design

Abstract

This lecture deals with the geotechnical aspects in transportation, introduces pavement design and familiarises students with the behaviour of the various materials used in traffic route engineering. The lecture focuses on roads, however, many of the basic geotechnical principles are also transferable to other modes of transport.

Objective

Students should be able to recognise basic structural and material-related connections in traffic route engineering as well as be able to design pavements. This includes knowledge of the interrelation of local conditions such as soil properties, climate, water, as well as the mechanical behaviour of the selected construction materials and the quality of the design models involved.

Content

The content of the lecture is divided into the parts “geotechnical fundamentals in transportation”, “construction technology and materials” and “pavement design”. In the first part, soil stabilization, artificial compaction, testing of soils as well as the effects of frost are discussed for traffic route engineering. Thereafter, knowledge of the building materials and construction methods used in transportation is imparted with reference to European and national standards. After conveying some introductory concepts on the structural behaviour of asphalt, different design methods and models for pavements are subsequently examined. This knowledge is conveyed through lectures, practical demonstrations, moderated exercises and assignments (to be completed independently).

Resources