Cement Concrete as an Alternative PavementMaterial Over Asphalt Concrete in Arterial Roads of Ethiopia; Life Cycle Cost Comparison and Economic Analysis

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Date

2015-09

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Cement concrete pavement usually has design life span of 25 to 40 years whereas flexible pavement can have design life span of 15 to 20 years. Hence it becomes necessary to determine which pavement is more economical for entire life. The cost of initial construction of pavements depends upon availability and cost of construction resources like: the cost of aggregates; cost of binders, equipment renting charges and cost of labor. The cost of maintenance of roads depends upon a number of factors among them being the volume and intensity of traffic, cost of materials, labor and machinery, type of terrain, type of wearing surface, the minimum level of serviceability which is acceptable for that category of road, climatic conditions etc. All types of asphalt binding materials used in our country are imported with hard currency and its cost is becoming increasingly high. On the other hand cement materials have been produced and have high potential of production in Ethiopia and its cost becomes reduced. In this study life cycle cost comparison and economic analysis carried out between cement concrete pavements and bituminous pavements in five selected trunk/arterial roads of Ethiopian Federal Roads. Traffic analysis, equivalent pavement design for Asphalt Concrete and Cement Concrete Pavements, cost break down analysis for initial cost comparison, life cycle maintenance costs, user costs and different economic and environmental considerations were performed for carrying out economic evaluation of pavements. Present Worth economic evaluation method was used for the evaluation of life cycle costs of pavements. From the evaluation of the study both initial and maintenance costs of Cement Concrete Pavement are found more economical than Asphalt Concrete pavements. Keywords: Asphalt pavement, Cement concrete pavement, cost comparison between rigid pavement and flexible pavement, Flexible pavement, life cycle cost of pavements, Rigid pavement.

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Keywords

Asphalt pavement, Cement concrete pavement, Cost comparison between rigid pavement and flexible pavement, Flexible pavement, life cycle cost of pavements, Rigid pavement

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