Question = How to prepare pavement thickness design.

Answer = The design of pavement has been mainly a matter of experience in the distant
past, but during the past 30 – 40 years the trend now is to design the pavement based on
an understanding of the stress and strain in layers.
The design method consider are:
1) Analytical method
2) Empirical method
3) Method based on pavement performance.
What we are generally following now is empirical method by CBR method.
CBR method.
The CBR method is a laboratory test to determine the resistance of a material against
penetration of a standard plunger. The design curves based on this test were originally
developed by California State Highway Department for a 7000 lb wheel load. The curve for a
12000 lb wheel load was subsequently obtained and thereafter the standard wheel load
curves for 9000 lb was developed by interpolation. The curves are based on the principle
that a material of certain CBR value requires a certain minimum thickness of construction
over it.
The advantage with CBR design curves is that it is possible to design the total thickness of
pavement as well as the thickness of individual course, provided the CBR values of the
materials forming the individual courses are known in addition to the CBR value of the
subgrade.1
Question = What is the significance of CBR
Answer = Most widely used test for design of flexible pavements. The test is basically a
penetration test, in which the load required to cause a plunger of standard size to penetrate
a specimen of soil at a standard is measured. The test can be constructed on remolded
specimen or undisturbed specimen in lab or in situ on site.
o (175 mm high ×150 mm diameter) mold
o ( 50 mm deep × 152 mm diameter displacer enables exactly 127 mm high.
o Volume of mold 2244 cc.
Advantages.
Simplicity, can be performed both in lab & in field, can be used for designing a new
pavement as well as an overlay unlike the BBD.
It can be used for analysis of existing pavement layer by layer, in respect their strength and
load carrying capacity.
Disadvantages.
Cannot evaluate any strength properties such as cohesion & internal fraction.
Presence of coarse material cannot be avoided for undisturbed specimen, only 20 mm down
we take.

Question = What do you know about soil investigation and how do you check soil.
Answer = The technical investigation by which the necessary information regarding various
soil properties is obtained to enable engineer to design a safe and economical foundation is
called soil investigation. In order to judge the suitability of site for the proposed project and
for preparing economical designs. It is very essential to investigate the soil below the
proposed site. Soil investigation also help in –
1. Analyzing the safety and caused of failure of the existing structures.
2. Deciding suitable construction methods.
3. Selecting the construction material.
Question = How do you check compaction?
Answer = Sand replacement method
Nuclear Density Gauge
Question = Compaction requirement is 100% and if the result is 95% what will be your step
?
Answer = Will not accept and will try to get required compaction. If deduction of payment
clause is in our agreement we will go accordingly.

Question = What action you will take, if paved compaction is 95% while the required
compaction is 98% and what is the road is opened to traffic and 95% become 100%
compaction.
Answer = Will not allowed traffic if the required compaction is not achieved. If deduction of
payment clause in our agreement we will go accordingly.

Question = During excavation of rock material is encountered, what action will you take?
Answer = During excavation if rock is encountered it is necessary to find out type of rock ie
whether soft or hard. Accordingly we will proceed

Question = How to determined optimum bitumen content.

Answer = Graph are drawn between
1, Unit weight Vs Bitumen content
2, Marshall Vs Bitumen content
3, Percent air voids Vs Bitumen content.
4, Percentage of voids in aggregates Vs Bitumen content.
5, Flow value Vs Bitumen content.
From these curve, the bitumen content is obtained for the following condition .
1, Point of maximum stability.
2, Point of maximum density.
3, Point of 4 % air voids in total mix.
The optimum bitumen content is the average of the above three and is used in the design,
provide it satisfies all other design criteria

Question = What are different types of bitumen and benefits of each? What is performance
grade bitumen ?
Answer = There are five major type of petroleum bitumen produced by the refining and
manufacturing process.
1. Paving grade bitumen or asphalt cement in American usage is refined and blended to
meet road engineering and industrial specification that take into account different climatic
conditions. As a product it is most widely used bitumen. It may also be considered as the
parent bitumen from which the other types are produced.
2. Cutback bitumen is a type of bitumen that has been diluted in order to make it more
fluid for application, mainly in road making. There fluidity depend on the degree of
hardness
Of the bitumen base and the proportion of diluents (flux) to bitumen. They are classified
according to the time it take them to become solid, as rapid curing (RC), medium curing
(MC), and slow curing (SC) cutbacks.
The cutback varies according to flux, white spirit is commonly used for RC, kerosene oil for
MC, and diesel for SC. They set as the flux evaporates. This evaporation is currently
regarded as a potentially undesirable characteristic from the point of view of the
environment and health and safety, so cutback bitumen are looked upon less favorably then
the more modern bitumen emulsion.
3. Bitumen emulsions, the basic bitumen has been diluted with water to facilitate
application. Hot bitumen, water and emulsifier are processed in a high speed colloid mil that
disperse bitumen in water in the form of globules that are normally in the 5 – 10 micron
size range but may be even smaller. The emulsifier produce a system in which fine droplets
of bitumen, of between 30% and 70% of the volume, are held in suspension. If they
separate in storage, the emulsion can easily be restored by ignition.
Bitumen emulsions have a low viscosity and can be workable at ambient temperature, which
make them ideal for use in road building. This application requires controlled breaking and
setting. The emulsion must not break before it is laid on the road surface but, once in place,
it should break quickly so that the road can be in service again without delay.
4. Industrial bitumen or oxidized bitumen are mad by blowing air through hot paving
grade
bitumen. The result is a product that soften at a high temperature than that at which paving
grade bitumen soften. It also has more rubber like properties and its viscosity is much less
affected by changes in temperature than is the case with paving grade bitumen.
5. Modified bitumen are formulated with additives to improve their service performance
by
changing such properties as their durability, resistance to ageing and elasticity.
Natural rubber, polymers such as styrene butadiene styrene (SBS), thermoplastic rubber
and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) are commonly used to modify bitumen.

Question = What is the durability of asphalt and its significance.

Answer = Two major factors effecting the durability of asphalt.
1. Compatibility of the interacting components of asphalt.
2. The resistance of the asphalt to change from the oxidative ageing.
The reaction of asphalt with atmospheric oxygen is a major factor to hardening and
brittlement
of asphalt . A minimum amount of volatile should be present in the asphalt for durability
consideration.

Question = what are causes of asphalt failure.

Answer = causes of asphalt failure.
1 . above or below compaction of course from specified limits.
2. failure of aggregate gradation after extraction.
3. failure of marshal properties.

Question = What is Marshall mix design? According to which method it is applied.

Answer = Marshall mix design method is the most common method used for design of HMA
( Hot Mix Asphalt ). It is applied according to ASTM D 1559. The Marshall method uses
standard test specimens of height 64 mm and dia 102 mm. the specimen are prepared
using a standard procedure for heating, mixing and compacting the mixture. Compaction is
done by imparting 50 or 75 blows on each two side of the specimen.
The principal feature of the method is density – voids analysis and a stability – flow test of
the compacted specimen. The stability is a measure of the strength of the mixture. It is
maximum load resistance in Newton, which will develop at 60 ⁰C when tested in standard
Marshall equipment. The flow value is the total deformation in unit of 0.25 mm, occurring in
the specimen between no load and maximum load during the test.
The test specimen are prepared with varying bitumen content 0.5 % increment over a range
that give a well defined maximum value for specimen density and stability.

Question = What is loss of stability ? What are the causes of more loss of stability and how
it could be reduced.
Answer = It is the ability of asphalt paving mixture to resist deformation from imposed load.
It depend upon both internal friction and cohesion. Internal friction is dependent on surface
texture, gradation of aggregates, particle shape, density of mixture and quantity, type of
asphalt.
Stability is a function of friction and interlocking resistance of the aggregates in the mix. For
any given aggregate the stability increases with the density of the compacted mass.
Excessive asphalt in the mix tends to act as a lubricant and lower the internal friction of
stone frame work thereby reducing the stability of the mix. Cohesion increase with asphalt
content up to and optimum point and then decreases. Therefore to reduce loss of stability
the above mentioned points has to be taken.

Question = What is fineness of cement? How it effect the strength ? Its use and limits?
Answer = 1) Fineness of cement means the fineness of particles. Generally greater the
fineness greater the rate of development of strength during the initial period and larger is
the heat of evolution. The is possible because greater fineness enable a large surface of
cement to come in contact with water during initial period, although the long term effect
may not be different.
In addition, the particle size also influence the hydration & strength at various ages. Particle
below 5 micron hydrate within 1 to 2 days & 10 to 15 micron will take minimum 7 days.
Its limit when sieved by 90 micron sieve is max 10%.
Blain air permeability method is used for determining the fineness of cement. The method is
based on the permeability to flow of air through a bed of cement. The fineness is expressed
as specific surface area ⁄ per gram of cement.
2) Soundness of cement.
It is determined by Le chatlier apparatus. This test defect only free lime. Auto clave test
give unsoundness due to magnesia and lime both. In this test high pressure steam
accelerate the hydration of both magnesia and lime.
4)Heat of hydration.
The method of determining heat of hydration is by measuring the heat of solution of
unhydrated and hydrated cement in a mixture of nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid, the
difference between the two values give the heat of hydration.

Question = What is durability of concrete, its significance & what test are related and
performed what values are required ?
Answer = Durability can be defined as its resistance to deteriorating influence which may
though in advertence or ignorance – reside inside the concrete itself or which are inherent in
the environment to which concrete is exposed.
Absence of durability may be either caused by external agencies like weathering, attack by
natural or industrial liquids and gases, bacterial growth etc. or by internal agencies like
harmful alkali aggregate reaction, volume changes due to non compatibility of thermal and
mechanical properties of aggregates and cement parts, presence of sulfate and chloride etc.
in case of reinforced concrete the ingress of moisture or air will facilitate the corrosion of
steel, leading to an increase in the volume of steel and cracking & spelling of concrete over.

Recommendation of durable concrete.

1. Limit of maximum water cement ration
2. Minimum cement concrete
3. Cover thickness
4. Type of cement
5. Amount of chloride and sulfate in concentration
All these recommendation taken together tend to result in concrete being dense, workable,
place able and having as low permeability as possible under the given situation.
The test required for the durability test are.
1. Initial surface absorption test ( ISAT ) BS 1881 P – 208
2. Water permeability test BSEN 12390 P – 8
3. Water absorption test BS 1881 P – 122
4. Rapid chloride permeability test (RCP ) ASTM C – 1202
Question = what is the criteria for acceptance of cubes and its result.
Answer =
• Properly compacted according to specification.
• Properly cured according to specification.
• Properly identification mark .
The strength result will be the average of three specimens. The individual result of each
specimen will be ± 15 % of the average result.

Question = What are the non destructive test of concrete.

Answer = 1,Rebound Hammer
2, Ultra sonic pulse velocity

Question = What is the acceptance of concrete compressive strength.

Answer = When both the following condition are met, the concrete complies with the
specified compressive strength.
1, The mean strength determined from any group of four consecutive samples should
exceed the specified characteristic compressive strength.
2, Strength of any sample is not less than the specified characteristic compressive strength
minus 3 MPa.

Question = What is current margin for trial mixes and target mean strength.
Answer = Current margin , is determined by 1.64 times the standard deviation of sample
test results from at least 40 separate batches of concrete of similar proportions produce at
site by the same plant under similar supervision, over a period exceeding 5 days to 6
months.

Question = If in surrounding both (Cl and SO3) both exist what type of cement is used?
Answer = SSRC ( Slug sulfate Resisting Cement according to ASTM 595 and ENV 197 1)
and SRC ( sulfate resisting cement ) is used.

Question = what will be the effect of high %age of elongated and flaky particles.
Answer = Elongated and Flaky particles having a high ratio of surface area to volume,
lower the workability of mix and also effect adversely the durability of concrete since they
tend to be oriented in one plane with water and air voids underneath.

Question = How you will find out flexural strength . In which element it is important? Give
examples.
Answer =
Flexural strength.
It is the ability of beam or slab to resist failure in bending. It is measured by loading
unreinforced 6 × 6 inch concrete beam with span three time the depth ( usually 18 inch ).
The flexural strength is expressed as “ modulus of rupture “ ( MR ) in psi.
Flexural MR is about 12 to 20 percent of compressive strength. However the best correlation
for specific materials is obtained by lab test.
Why we test flexural strength
Designer of pavement use a theory based of flexural strength. Therefore laboratory mix
design based on flexural may be required or a cement content may be selected from past
experience to yield the design MR. Some also us MR for field control and acceptance of
pavements. Very few use flexural testing for structural concrete. Agencies not using flexural
strength for field control generally find the use of compressive strength convenient and
reliable to judge the quality of the concrete as delivered.
How to use flexural strength.
Beam specimen shall be properly made in the field. Pavement concrete are stiff ( ½ to 2 ½
inch slump) .Consolidate by vibration in accordance with ASTM C 31 and tap side to release
bubbles.
For high slump, after roding, tap the mold to release the bubbles and spade along the side
to consolidate. Never allow the beam surface to dry at any time. Immerse in saturated lime
water for at least 20 hours before testing.
Specification and investigation of apparent low strengths should take into account the
higher variability of flexural strength results. Standard deviation for project with good
control range from about 40 to 80 psi. values over 100 psi indicate testing problems, and
there is high likelihood that testing problems or moisture difference with in a beam, will
cause low strength.
Where a correlation between flexural strength and compressive strength has been
established, core strength by ASTM C 42 can be used for compressive strength to check it
again the desired value using the ACI 318 85 percent criteria. It is impractical to saw beams
from a slab for flexural testing. Sawing beam will greatly reduce measured flexural strength
and should not be done. Some use has been made of measuring indirect tensile strength of
cores by ASTM C 496, but experience is lacking on how to apply data.
Another procedure for in-place strength investigation uses compressive strength of cores
calibrated by comparison with acceptable placement on either side of the concrete in
question.
Flexural strength is more important in Rigid pavement.

Question = what will be you action if CCS ( characteristic ) fail.

Answer = We will go by the acceptance criteria. There are also non destructive tests for
which we can go.

Question = How does the deterioration of concrete take place

Answer = Due to volumetric changes that take place in the concrete structure.

Question = State concrete mix design method.

Answer = some common concrete mix design methods are
• The ACI Mix Design Method
• The USBR Mix Design Method
• The British Mix Design Method
• The Mix Design Method according to Indian Standard Recommended Guidline.
Question = What are deleterious aggregates and what are its limits and how you will test it.
Answer = Aggregate that have material like pyrites, coal, lignite, mica, shale, or laminated
material like clay, alkali, soft fragments ( sea shell, organic impurities ) in such quantity to
effect the strength and durability of concrete are called deleterious aggregates.
Limits.

Deleterious Method of Fine aggregates, by weight, Coarse aggregates, by

material test maximum weight maximum
Coal &ignite IS 2386, 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
PART 11
Clay lumps IS 2386, 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
PART 11
Material finer IS 2386, 3.00 7.00 3.00 3.00
than 75µm PART 1
Soft IS 2386, 3.00
fragments PART 11
Shale IS 2386, 1.00
 PART 11
Total %age 5.00 2.00 5.00 5.00
of all
deleterious
material
except mica

Question = What is workability ? What is consistency

Answer = The amount of useful internal work necessary to produce full compaction is called
workability.
Consistency, it is the wetness of the mix.

Question = What is the % of C3 A in MSRC cement ?

Answer = % of C3 A in MSRC cement is between 4 to 8.

Question = What is workability, transportability and placing of concrete.

Answer = Transportation, placing and compaction of concrete.
The method of transporting material shall be approved by the engineer. Concrete shall be
transported and placed as near as practicable to its final position, so that no contamination,
segregation or loss of its constituent material take place. Concrete shall not be freely
dropped into placed from height exceeding 1.5 meters.
When concrete is conveyed by chute, the plant shall be of such size and design as to ensure
practically continuous flow. Slope of the chute shall be so adjusted that the concrete flow
without the use of excessive quantity of water and without any segregation of its
ingredients. The delivery end of the chute shall be as closed as possible to the point of
deposit. The chute shall be thoroughly water before and after each working period and the
water used for this purpose shall be discharged outside the formwork.
All formwork and reinforcement contained in it shall be cleaned and made free standing
water, dust, snow or ice immediately before placing concrete.
If the concreting is not started within 24 hours of the approval being given, it shall have to
be obtained again from the engineer. Concreting then shall proceed continuously over the
area between the construction joints. Fresh concrete shall not be placed against concrete
which has been in position more than 30 minutes unless a proper construction joint is
formed.
Except where otherwise agreed by thee engineer, concrete shall be deposited in horizontal
layers to a compacted depth of not more than 450 mm when internal vibrators are used and
not exceeding 300 mm in all other cases.
Concrete when deposited shall have a temperature of not less than 5C⁰ and not more than
32 C⁰.
It shall be compacted in its final position within 30 minutes of its discharge from the
mixture, unless carried in properly design agitator, operating continuously, when this time
shall be with in 1 hour of the addition of cement to the mix and within 30 minute of its
discharge from the agitator. It may be necessary to add retarding admixtures to concrete if
trial show that the period indicated above are unacceptable. In all such matters, the
engineer decision shall be final.
Concrete shall be thoroughly compacted by vibrator or other means during placing and
worked around the reinforcement, tendon or duct formers, embedded fixtures and into
corner of the formwork to produce a dense homogenous void free mass having the required
surface finish.
When vibrator are used, vibration shall be done continuously during the placing of each
batch of concrete until the expulsion of air has practically ceased and in a manner that does
not promote segregation.
Over vibration shall be avoided to minimize the risk of forming a weak surface layer. When
external vibrator are used, the design of formwork and disposition of vibrator shall be such
as to ensure efficient compaction and to avoid surface blemishes. Vibrator shall not be
applied through reinforcement and where vibrator of immersion type are used, contact with
reinforcement and all inserts like ducts etc shall be avoided. The internal vibrator shall be
inserted in an orderly manner and the distance between insertions should be about on and
half time the radius of the area visibly affected by vibration. Addition vibration is serviceable
condition shall be kept at site so that they can be used in the event of breakdown.

Question = What is shear strength

Answer = The property which enable to maintain equilibrium on a sloping surface is known
as shear strength of soil.
Only because of this property the soil has the ability to resist sliding along internal surface.
It also influence the bearing capacity of soil and the lateral pressure which the soil back fill
exert against any type of restraining structure.
The maximum shear resistance of soil is termed as shear strength of soil.
Shear resistance of soil consist of –
1) Cohesion 2) Dilatency 3) fraction
S = C + ᶞ tan ɸ
Question = What is falling weight deflection test.
Answer = All impact load devices deliver a transient impulse load to the pavement surface.
The subsequent pavement response ( deflection basin ) is measured by a series of sensors.
The most common type of equipment is the falling weight deflect meter ( FWD ). The FWD
can either be mounted in a vehicle or on a trailer and is equipped with a weight and several
velocity transducer sensors. To perform a test, the vehicle is stopped and the loading plate (
weight ) is positioned over the desired location. The sensor are then lowered to the
pavement surface and the weight is dropped. Multiple test can be perform on the same
location using different drop height ( ASTM 2000 ). The advantage of an impact load
response measuring device over a steady state deflection measuring device is that it is
quicker, the impact load can be easily varied and it more accurately simulates the transient
loading of traffic. Result from FWD tests are often communicated using the FWD AREA
parameter.
Falling weight deflectometer .
The FWD is a non destructive test device which is designed for multi-purpose pavement
applications, ranging from unpaved road to air field. FWD generate data, combined with
layer thickness, can be confidently used to obtained the ‘ in-situ ‘ resilient elastic module of
the structure layers with in a pavement. This information can, in turn, be used in a
structural analysis to determined the bearing capacity, estimate expect life, and design a
rehabilitation plan.
Additionally, the FWD can be used to test load transfer efficiency of joints with in concrete
pavement.

Question = What are different type of strength ?

Answer =
1. Compressive strength.
2. Tensile strength.
3. Flexural strength.
4. Split tensile strength.

Question = What are the responsibilities of field QC and ME

Answer =
Field QC.
1.To assist the Material Engineer in his duties and task.
 2. To manage the day – to – day running of the laboratory.
3. To instruct material technicians and assistants on procedures and to as a material
technician.
5. To supervise on a day – to – day basis the contractor’s concrete or asphalt plant,
Including sampling, testing and approval of contractor’s materials.
5.To maintain all necessary records relating to the operation of these plants, the raw
materials and the finished products.
ME.
1. To established and maintain site lab and testing procedures.
2. To established material control testing requirements to be followed by the contractors.
3. To established and maintain a computerized data base for the compilation of materials
testing results produced by the contractor’s.
4. To inspect, review the contractor material criteria and sources.
5. To check and approve the suitability of proprietary materials for incorporation into the
works.
6. To provide material advise to the site supervisory teams and operation.
7. To prepare monthly project quality control report for the Resident Engineer.
8. To undertake materials check testing as requested by the Resident Engineer.
10. To ensure compliance with quality system requirements.
11. To manage laboratory teams and operation.
12. To provide expert technical advice to the Resident Engineer on the requirements of
materials testing.
13. To comment on and assist with the approval of contractor proposals relating to concrete
mixes, asphalt mixes, the use of special materials etc.
14. To establish and maintain a healthy and safety plan.