Concrete roads are called rigid and are known for their durability and ability to hold a shape. They consist of a surface layer of Portland cement slabs on top of sub-layers. There are three types of hard flooring, with the main difference being how they deal with cracking. Concrete roads are advantageous due to their durability and ability to create grooves and channels for extra traction and water displacement.
Rigid pavement is the technical term for any concrete road surface. Concrete roads are called rigid while asphalt roads are flexible. These terms refer to the amount of deformation that is created in the road surface itself during use and over time. The biggest benefits of using concrete flooring are in its durability and ability to hold a shape. There are three basic types of hard flooring commonly used around the world.
The basic design of hard flooring is very simple. A surface layer, made up of Portland cement (PCC) slabs, sits on top of a handful of sub-layers. The layer directly under the PCC is more flexible than concrete, but still quite stiff. This layer provides a stable foundation for the PCC and aids in drainage. Some roads have a second sub-base under the first which is even more flexible, while others simply have the existing ground. The most important factor in deciding whether this second layer is needed is the composition of the existing material.
Flexible and rigid pavement are the two basic styles of road surfaces. Flexible pavement is almost always asphalt while rigid pavement is concrete. The difference between these two styles mostly boils down to warping. Flexible flooring allows for significant deformation under heavy loads; this means that the road will bend under stress. Rigid flooring will remain fixed when subjected to stress and crack when the stress exceeds its tolerances.
How concrete flooring deals with cracking is the main difference between the three flooring styles. The most common style, plain joint concrete (JPC), consists of slabs without steel reinforcement. When cracks develop, they should occur in the gaps between the slabs, making the road surface easy to repair.
Joint reinforced concrete contains a steel mesh that reinforces the concrete slab structure. The concrete slabs used in this style are often much larger than those used in JPC projects. The armor prevents some cracking, allowing larger slabs to be effective. Cracks, when they appear, typically still occur between slabs.
The third style, continuous reinforced concrete, contains a high amount of steel reinforcement. These slabs are not designed to break at the connection points – the slab itself breaks. The steel reinforcement holds the cracks together so tightly that they do not cause structural problems within the slab.
There are two main reasons to use hard flooring, both due to its hardness. As the surface is harder, it is also more durable over time. This keeps the road in good running condition much longer than softer surfaces. The other advantage of concrete roads is in their layout. Since the surface can withstand a lot of weight without deformation, groves and channels can be created in the road to provide extra traction and displace water from the road surface.
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