Construction

In addition to the stresses caused by traffic loads concrete highway pavements may be subjected to considerable stresses due to environmental action effects and other related damaging mechanisms such as early age shrinkage, loss or absorption of moisture, temperature induced strain gradients and in some instances also alkali-silicareactions. Due to...

The strength development and permeability properties of two concretes prepared with natural pozzolanic cements, Trass Cement (TC) and Blended Cement (BC), were investigated and compared with those of an Ordinary Portland Cement (PC) concrete under varying water-curing periods. The mix design of concretes was made with an equal strength base...

As a result of Urban Travel Plans implemented in major cities, public transport is being favoured as a convenient means of travel and mobility by all. Platforms (road- and trackbeds) designed for public transport must offer quality from the technical standpoint in order to handle channelled loads or the insertion...

In recent years, the proliferation of safety devices, the absence of legislation in the matter and the problems encountered in terms of the stability, efficiency and durability of these devices have resulted in the experimental manufacture of precast elements for the construction of road humps and plateaus. At the current...

Don't we all loath them – traffic jams. Irrespective of how we are affected by them, either directly as a user of traffic infrastructure or as a construction worker involved with its upkeep or indirectly as a conscious citizen aware of their economical impact, we all wish they could be...

During the extension to Zurich Airport in northern Switzerland, the ‘Oberbau’ Civil Engineering Construction Consortium (Arbeits-Gemeinschaft) has probably been successful in completing the largest volume of concrete laying works in Central Europe by comparison with similar conversion undertakings. The works included the preparation and laying down of concrete runways, taxiways...

In Belgium, most of the actual road works deal with rehabilitation, maintenance and repair. For the Road and Traffic Administrations, the limitation of the traffic disturbance is one of the major challenges. Thanks to the technique of rapidly hardening concrete, known as ‘fast-track concrete paving’, cement concrete pavements are repaired...

In Austria, concrete pavement construction has a tradition of several decades and the technology used is regarded as mature. Nonetheless, improvements are required on a continuous basis. The sharp increase in heavy traffic, higher emission levels, including in particular noise emissions, as well as economic considerations taking into account the...

The ‘Drève de Lorraine’ in Brussels is an old forestry road connecting the highway to the south part of Brussels. It has been built in 1925, using concrete slabs of 15 cm thick lying directly on the natural ground. After 78 years of good services, this road has been rehabilitated...

Axle loads are increasing all over the world including Turkey. Asphalt pavements are not able to carry this heavy traffic safely and economically. Using asphalt pavement for heavy traffic cause early deterioration of the pavement and higher cost of pavement maintenance. As an alternative, concrete pavements may be used instead...

Porous concrete is used as top layer on highway roads to obtain noise reducing and permeable pavements. An extensive laboratory investigation has been executed to obtain an optimum mixture composition for the use as top layer on highway roads. This comprises a good resistance against heavy traffic, no rooting and...

Concrete, which is susceptible to frost and thawing salts, is protected by adding an air-entraining admixture, which leads to air content levels of 3.5 to 6% being achieved. Another possible protection involves the application of a sealant which prevents water penetration. In this instance, resistance to scaling as a result...