OBSERVATIONS ON FULL-DEPTH PAVEMENT TYPES

THE AUTHOR RECALLS THE DEFINITION OF FULL-DEPTH FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS (ASPHALTOBERBAU). IN THIS TYPE OF PAVEMENT, ALL LAYERS BENEATH THE SURFACING DOWN TO THE SUBGRADE ARE MADE WITH BITUMINOUS MATERIALS. IT IS THOUGHT BY SOME THAT A STANDARD TYPE OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY REPLACED BY A FULL-DEPTH PAVEMENT CONSISTING OF A WEARING COURSE AND A SINGLE BEARING BITUMINOUS LAYER 30 TO 35 CM THICK. STUDIES OF AND TESTS ON THIS METHOD ARE BEING CONDUCTED; THE TECHNIQUE A PRIORI APPEARS ADVANTAGEOUS BECAUSE OF THE SAVING IN AGGREGATES. ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE FACT THAT THE PROPERTIES OF FULL-DEPTH PAVEMENTS MUST BE EQUIVALENT TO THOSE OF A CONVENTIONAL PAVEMENT, THAT STRESSES FROM TRAFFIC WILL BE GREATER ON THINNER LAYERS, AND THAT THE SUBGRADE WILL HAVE TO BEAR THESE STRESSES. BASED ON A CONCRETE EXAMPLE A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS IS DESCRIBED.