Rigid pavements are constructed using reinforced concrete slabs that provide a strong wearing surface and base course. They are used in areas with adverse conditions like heavy rainfall, poor soil/drainage, or extreme climate. Materials for rigid pavements include Portland cement, coarse and fine aggregates, and water. Reinforcement includes dowel bars at joints. Rigid pavements have longitudinal and transverse joints, including contraction joints to relieve stresses, expansion joints to allow for expansion, and construction joints. They can be constructed using slipform pavers, fixed form pavers, or manual methods. Quality control ensures the concrete meets specifications. Traffic is only allowed after a minimum 28-day curing period.

1. Guided by : Prepared by:
Prof. Jain sir Saurabh P. V.

2. RIGID PAVEMENTS :
Pavements usually constructed using plain or
unreinforced cement concrete slabs having high
flexural strength.
It serves as good and durable wearing surface as
well as an effective and strong base course of
highway pavements.

3. WHERE ARE RIGID PAVEMENT PROVIDED ?
Rigid pavements are usually provided when
road stretch is subjected to adverse
conditions:
1. Very heavy rainfall.
2. Poor soil conditions
3. Poor drainage
4. Extreme climatic conditions
5. Combinations of some of these conditions
which may lead to development of cracks
in pavements.

5. MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CC
PAVEMENTS :
Portland cement :
--OPC of grade 43.
--OPC of grade 53.
--Portland pozzolona cement with fly ash (20 per cent)
Portland slag cement.
2. Coarse aggregates :
Los angeles abration value < 35 %
Combined flakiness and
Elongation index
<35%
Water absorption <3%
soundness For Na2So4 <12%
For MgSo4 <18%

6. Fine aggregates :
clean natural sand / crushed stones /combination of
both.
It should be free of clay ,coal and ignite. Well graded
with 100% passing 10 mm sieve.
WATER: Water used for mixing and curing of concrete
shall be clean and free from injurious amount of oil,
salt, acid, vegetable matter or other substances
harmful to the finished concrete. It shall meet the
requirements stipulated in IS:456.
Chemical Admixtures : conforming to IS:9103 and
IS:6925 shall be permitted to improve workability of the
concrete and/or extension of setting time, on
satisfactory evidence that they will not have of any
adverse effect on the properties of concrete with
respect to strength, volume change, durability and
have no deleterious effect on steel bars.

7. Reinforcement:
 steel dowel bars (rounded) with yield
strength 240 MPa are used for the load
transfer across in expansion and construction
joints.
 Plain or twisted steel bars are used as tie
bars are used as tie bars at longitudinal
joints.

8. Basic Components of CC Pavements:
 --soil subgrade.
 --drainage layer.
 --sub-base course generally constructed using
lean cement concrete or ‘dry lean concrete’
 --separation membrane laid on top of base
course.
 --CC pavement slabs Using ‘ paving quality
concrete’ (PQC)
 --construction of different types of joints in
CC pavements.

10.  DIFFERENT TYPES OF CC PAVEMENTS:
 Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP)
 – does not use any reinforcing steel
 Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavement (JRCP)
 – Reinforcing steel placed at mid height and
discontinued at the joints.
 Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement
(CRCP)
 – This method is very costly and generally not used in
India.
 Pre-stressed Concrete Pavement (PCP)
 – Comprises new and innovative construction methods
Among these Plain CC pavements are most commonly used.

11. Equipments required for the different phases of
concrete road construction:
 Three wheeled or vibratory roller for compaction purpose
 Shovels, spades and Sieving screens
 Concrete mixer for mixing of concrete
 Formwork and iron stakes
 Watering devices - Water Lorries, water carriers or watering cans
 Wooden hand tampers for concrete compaction
 Cycle pump/pneumatic air blower for cleaning of joint
 Mild steel sections and blocks for making joint grooves for
finishing purpose

12.  METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION OF CC PAVEMENTS :
1. Construction by Slip Form Paver
2. Construction by Fixed Form Paver.
3. Construction by Fixed Form and labour oriented
method of paving.
 Basically different operation involved in construction
of CC pavements slabs are :
a) spreading prepared concrete mix to desired
thickness, grade and cross profiles.
b) Compacting.
c) Finishing the surface to desired surface profile.
d) Texturing.
e) Curing
f) Cutting of construction joints and longitudinal
joints.

13. Site Preparation
 Before construction begins, the construction site must be carefully
prepared, This includes preparing the grade or road base, sub grade and
sub base-
 First the site is graded to cut high points and fill low areas to the
desired roadway profile elevations.
 Generally, cut material can be used as embankment fill.
 A course of material is placed on the sub grade to provide drainage and
stability.
 A course of fairly rigid material, sometimes cement- or asphalt-
treated, that is placed on the sub base to provide a stable platform for
the concrete pavement slab.

14. CONSTRUCTION BY SLIP FORM PAVER
1. The slip form paving train spreads, compacts and
finishes the concrete in a continuous operation, by
internal vibration and shape it between the side
forms with either a conforming plate or by
vibrating and oscillating finishing beams.
2. The concrete gets deposited without segregation in
front of slip form paver across the whole width and
to a height which at all times is in excess of the
required surcharge.
3. The deposited concrete is struck off to the
necessary average and differential surcharge by
means of the strike off plate or a screw auger
device extending across the whole width of the
slab.

15.  The alignment of the paver shall be controlled
automatically from the guide wire with vertical
tolerance of +/- 2mm, and lateral tolerance +/-
10mm.
 Paver moves forward at speed of 1.5m per minute and
concreting ,compaction, floating and finishing are
completed. As stiff mix is fed into machine, paver
moves forward, edges of slip- formed slab remains in
position and does not slump.
 Surface is textured using rectangular steel wire brush
.
 Then resin-based aluminized liquid is sprayed on
surface and sides and left to cure for 8 to 12 hours.
 Contraction and longitudinal joints are cut and
marked.
 Curing is further continued by covering pavement
surface and sides by 2 to 3 layers of moist hessian for
about 3 hours. The hessian is kept moist for a
minimum curing period of 14 days.

16. VIDEO OF SLIP FORM PAVER 01

17. Construction by Fixed Form Paver
 The fixed form paving train shall consist of separate
powered machines which spread, compact and finish the
concrete in a continuous operation.
 The concrete is discharged without segregation into a
hopper spreader which is equipped with means for
controlling its rate of deposition on to the sub-base.
 The spreader is operated to strike off concrete up to a
level requiring a small amount of cutting down by the
distributor of the spreader.
 The distributor of spreader strikes off the concrete to the
surcharge adequate to ensure that the vibratory compactor
thoroughly compacts the layer. If necessary, poker
vibrators shall be used adjacent to the side forms and
edges of the previously constructed slab.

18.  The vibratory compactor is set to strike off the
surface slightly high so that it is cut down to the
required level by the oscillating beam.
 The machine rapidly adjusts changes in average and
differential surcharge necessitated by changes in slab
thickness or cross fall.
 The final finisher finishes the surface to the required
level and smoothness as specified, care being taken
to avoid bringing up of excessive mortar to the
surface by over working.
 Narrow grooves of specified width and depth are cut
using diamond saw machine to provide transverse
contraction joints and longitudinal joints
 Further curing is done by covering the pavement
surface and sides by 2 to 3 layers of moist hessian for
about 3 hours. The hessian is kept moist for a
minimum curing period of 14 days.

19. ( video no 2 : fix form)

20. Construction by Fixed Form and labour
oriented method of paving.
 This method is used when CC pavements is to be constructed in
short stretches of narrow road using small machinery.
 Steel side forms are fixed in position and exact position of dowel
and tie bars marked.
 Concrete is placed between side forms with surcharge and
compaction and levelling is done by vibrating screeds resting on
side forms.
 Irregularities are corrected by adding or removing concrete ,
followed by compaction and finishing.
 Then surface is textured manually using steel brush with long
handle .Curing compound is sprayed by hand using a pressure
sprayer.

21.  After CC is set , side forms are removed and shifted
forward; curing compound is applied on sides of slab.
Location of Contraction and longitudinal joints are
cut and marked.
 Further curing is done by covering the pavement
surface and sides by 2 to 3 layers of moist hessian for
about 3 hours. The hessian is kept moist for a
minimum curing period of 14 days
 ( video no 3 )

22. TYPES OF JOINTS IN CC PAVEMENTS:
A) Longitudinal joints ( parallel to traffic flow).
B) Transverse joints ( perpendicular to traffic
flow)
-- Contraction joints
-- Expansion joints.
-- construction joints.

24.  Longitudinal joints
 During initial period of curing ,shrinkage
cracks usually develops in CC pavements
,when length or width of the slabs exceeds
4.5 to 5 m width or more.
 Hence longitudinal joints are provided whose
spacing depends on width of traffic lane . For
instance if width is 3.5 or3.75 , then spacing
of longitudinal joints is also 3.5 or 3.75m
respectively.

25. CONTRACTION JOINTS :
• These are purposely made weakened planes
which relieve the tensile stresses in the concrete
Caused due to changes in the moisture content
(Drying shrinkage) and/or temperature and
• Prevent the formation of irregular cracks due to
restraint in free contraction of concrete .
Purpose of joints in Concrete Roads
1. To absorb expansion & contraction due to variation in
temperature.
2. To avoid warping of slab edges
3. To grant facility in construction .

26. Construction of contraction joints :
• They are formed initially by sawing a groove
of 3-5 mm with up to about one-fourth to one-
third the slab which facilitates the formation
of a natural crack at this location extending to
the full depth.
Two methods of construction of contraction
joints:
1. As ‘plain joints without dowel bars’.
2. With dowel bars.

28.  1) AS ‘PLAIN JOINTS WITHOUT DOWEL
BARS’.
Markings are made to indicate exact location
where grooves of contraction joints r to be cut
using diamond saw cutting machines and then
temporary seal is inserted to block entrance of
grit and soil.
After cc pavement is cured for 14 days , hessian
cloth covers are removed, and then temporary
seal is removed and cleaned by blowing air.
Sealant is applied which can be cold sealant(
polysulphide or silicon formation) or hot
sealant( rubberized bitumen).

29. 2)Construction of contraction joints with
dowel bars.
1. Location of contraction joints are
marked .
If slip form paver is used then dowel bars
are cut to specified length and
appropriately placed.
2. Dowel inserting plate of paver reaches
marked location , the inserter switch is
activated which inserts the bars at mid
depth of slab , maintaining their correct
alignment and position.
3. In fixed form method dowel bar
supports (cradles/chairs) are placed along
marked lines depending on their spacing
and it alignment and position is
rechecked before concreting work.
4. And then groove cutting work and
application of sealant are carried out.
( video no 4 )

30. Expansion joints
• There are full-depth joints provided transversely
into which pavement can expand, thus relieving
compressive stresses due to expansion of concrete
slabs, and preventing any tendency towards
distortion and buckling.
• They are allows expansion of slabs due to
temperature.
• A joint filler board of compressible material is
used to fill the gap between the adjacent slabs at
the joint.
• The height of the filler board is such that its top
is 23-25mm below the surface of the pavement.
• The joint groove is filled by a sealant .

32. CONSTRUCTION OF EXPANSION JOINT WITH LOAD TRANSFER
DOWEL BARS
1. A steel bulk head with drilled holes at desired intervals
is provided to support end of slabs adjoining expansion
joint such that dowel bar can be inserted up to mid-
length and held in correct position.
2. Concreting is done , filler board is inserted through gap
of expansion joint ,so that dowel bars are properly
placed in position .
3. Now filler board will be 25mm below the surface of slab.
4. Wooden strips of 20x25 size and 25 mm depth are placed
on top of filler to fill gap during concreting .
5. After concrete is cured for a period of 14 days ,wooden
strips are removed and gap is thoroughly cleaned .
6. The sealant is heated ,poured in gap of joint, above
filler board. Top of sealant shall be at same level as
adjoining pavement surface.

34. EFFECT OF REINFORCEMENT IN CONCRETE
PAVEMENTS

36. WORKING OF EXPANSION
JOINTS :
 During hot climate CC
slab expands towards
the gap provided at
expansion joint, due
to which filler board
and joint sealer gets
compressed and
pushed up.
 Dowel bars also move
along with the slab,
occupying the space in
the metal cap
attached at the end of
each dowel bar.

37.  AND, During cold
climate slabs
contracts and gap
increases and dowel
bars also move
along with slab.
 The compressed
filler board may
partly recover and
joint sealer moves
down.

38. JOINT SEALER
Top portion of gap at expansion joint above the joint filler is sealed to
prevent entry of water and grit into pavement through expansion joint
The sealer should be impermeable and flexible to accommodate slab
movements , sealant should not flow in hot season or become brittle in
winter.
Rubberized bitumen is commonly used.
Hence, for effective sealing of joint for a long period, it is essential that
sealing compounds posses these properties :
1. Adhesion to cement concrete edges.
2. Extensibility without fracture.
3. Resistance to ingress of grit.
4. Durability.
Some sealants are:
 Hot poured rubberized Asphalts (Thermoplastic type)
 • Cold applied poly sulphide sealants( performs well for 5 to 7 years).
• Cold silicone Sealants(performs well for 10 years.)

39. QUALITY CONTROL DURING CONSTRUCTION:
1. CA samples collected should be tested to specified tests
in the laboratory to decide suitability.
2. Grading of CA and FA for mix is checked and compared
with specified gradation.
3. Samples of fresh CC mix are collected ,cube and beam
specimen prepared and tested according to standard test
and checked with acceptance criteria.
4. Side slabs of pavements is checked to find
hungry/honeycombed surface such surfaces are finished
with cement mortar.
5. Regularity of finished pavements is checked with a 3m
straight edge, 6 to 12 hours after laying , maximum
permissible number of irregularities of 4 mm and 7 mm
sizes in a 300 m stretch are 20 and 2mm.

40.  Unevenness index or roughness index is
measured using bump indicator, along the
wheel path of each lane; the average value
of unevenness index shall not exceed 2200
mm/Km length of highway.

41. OPENING TO TRAFFIC
The entire surface of newly laid pavement is
carefully examined for :
1. Fine cracks have developed on surface
2. Non-uniform settlements of CC slabs has
taken place near abutments or along high
embankments.
If any such defect is noticed ,then corrective
measures may be taken up.
A newly constructed CC pavement stretch shall
be opened to traffic only after a minimum
curing of 28 days.