Composite Pavements: Synthesis of Design and Construction Practices

About the project:

Traditionally, composite pavements use a rigid base composed of a concrete slab and a hot-mix asphalt (HMA) surface.  This type of pavement is thought to be, by many pavement engineers, an ideal pavement since the concrete base provides a rigid support, while the HMA provides a smooth riding surface.  However, pavement engineers rarely use this type of design in newly constructed highways primarily because it is thought to have a very expensive initial construction cost.The proposed project initiates an effort toward understanding the mechanisms needed for designing and constructing new composite pavements and rehabilitated existing concrete pavements with an HMA overlay for the purpose of evaluating their future use as long-life pavements for Virginia high-volume traffic highways.  A national need for this study is evidenced by inclusion of topic in the forthcoming Spring 2007 SHRP II funding cycle.

Project Team

Co-Principal Investigators

Other Investigators