1.
What are the common defects on existing asphalt pavements and what does it
indicates?
(Duroja, Jessie Jade S., BSCE 3A-1)The common defects on existing asphalt
pavements are a rough surface with a considerable amount of patching and/or
potholes which indicates generally inadequate pavement strength for the traffic,
and longitudinal and transversal cracking and depressions which generally
indicate sub-grade failure caused by poor drainage/materials.
2. Why is it that a spiral curve is incorporated in the design of horizontal curve on
highways
Spiral curve is incorporated in the design of horizontal curve on highways because it
provides a gradual change from the tangent section to the circular curve and vice versa.
At locations with high speeds and sharp curvature, the use of transition curves
between the tangents and the curves may make it easier for the vehicle to stay
within its own lane.
3. Enumerate the advantages and disadvantages of a 4 – lane Undivided Highway over
the 2 – Lane Highway
The advantages of a 4-lane undivided highway over the 2-lane highway are
it is the narrowest highway on which each traffic lane is intended to be used by
traffic in one direction and passing is accomplished on lanes not subject to use by
opposing traffic. The ability to pass without travelling in the lane of opposing traffic
results in a freer and smoother operation and a large increase in highway capacity.
Also, it is essential to use during emergencies. Its disadvantage is that it is difficult
to have a turning lane and Four-lane roads with intersections too close
together may suffer from weaving. This can be very dangerous and
severely hinder traffic speed.
4. Define control of access
Control of access means the condition where the right of owners of abutting
land or any other persons having access to highway right-of-way is controlled
by the appropriate public authority.
5. Discuss how field survey information is being gathered
Field survey information is being gathered by the determination of physical
location, alignment, gradients, sight distances, cross sections, and other design
elements of highways.
6. Give some examples of measures that are constructed to protect slopes from erosion
or stability decline that is caused by surface water or groundwater.
Some examples of measures that are constructed to protect
slopes from erosion or stability decline that is caused by surface water or
groundwater are Excavation and filling techniques. This would include excavating
the toe of an earth flow until successive failures result in a stable slope, removing and
replacing failed material with lighter, more stable material, or recompacted debris,
excavating to unload upper portions of a mass failure, and filling to load the lower
portions of a mass failure (most likely in conjunction with other loading or restraining
structures). Drainage techniques which include efforts to remove or disperse surface
water, drainage of tension cracks, using rock fill underlain by filter cloth to prevent upward
migration of water into the road prism, insertion of trench drains, perforated, horizontal
drains, or drainage galleries, insertion of vertical drains or wells discharged by syphons,
or pumps, and electro-osmosis (the use of direct current passing between wellpoints and
steel rods placed midway between the rods to increase the drainage rate) for drainage of
low permeability soils. Restraining structures which include retaining walls, piles,
buttresses, counterweight fills, cribs, bin walls, reinforced earth, and pre-stressed or post-
tensioned soil or rock anchors. Organizations such as highway departments and railroads
have developed charts and tables giving earth pressures for the design of retaining walls
that require a minimum of computation. Miscellaneous techniques such as grouting
can be used to reduce soil permeability, thereby preventing the ingress of groundwater
into a failure zone.
7. Why can it be said that roads are the symbol of a country's progress and thus
development made by any country can be judged by the quality and network of its road
system.
Roads are the symbol of a country's progress and thus development made by
any country can be judged by the quality and network of its road system because
considering the utility of roads anywhere in the different parts of a
country; they can be rightly compared to arterials in a human body. Just
as arteries maintain man's health by providing circulation of blood;
similarly Roads promote nation's wealth by keeping it's people and goods
moving. Thus, we see that progress and well-being of a nation depends
much on roads. In fact, roads are the life lines of nation's economy and it
has a lot of purpose and advantages.
8. What the types of curves used for horizontal and vertical alignment in the design of
highways
The types of curves used for horizontal and vertical alignment in the design of highways
are the spiral curves and parabolic curves.
9. Define Gradients.
The grade or gradient refers to the rate of increase or fall over the length of the road in
relation to the horizontal.
To put it another way, it's the longitudinal slope offered to a road's formation level
along its alignment. It is expressed as a 1 in n ratio (1 vertical unit to n horizontal units).
It can also be stated in terms of a percentage. The gradient may also be expressed in
degrees of elevation or depression above or below the horizontal plane.
10. What are the measures that are used to keep the ground water level at a prescribe
distance below the roadway
The measures that are used to keep the ground water level at a prescribe
distance below the roadway are the subsurface drainage which intended to reduce the
ground water level and to intercept and drain water infiltrating or rising from the
subgrade.
11. How is subsurface investigation being conducted
Subsurface investigation is being conducted by using exploration that shall be
based on the knowledge of subsurface conditions on geology, soil surveys, and
on the configuration of the highway at any given point.
