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