Investigation of Using Concrete Pavements in Developing Countries: A Case Study for Conditions of Khartoum State in Sudan

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed several advances in pavement industry, such as superpave and asphalt-rubber mix-design, mechanistic-empirical design and pavement recycling. Nevertheless, development is lacking search for feasibility of using concrete pavements in developing countries, while cities are seeking improvements in terms of reduced life-cycle cost, shorter construction period and less disruption of activities. This is in contrast to flexible-pavement poor performance with frequent premature failure and ever-increasing utility cuts. Although some doubts exist regarding their economics under certain conditions, those countries predominantly use flexible pavements. It appears then the cost factor is the main reason for this preference although the most two crucial parameters that govern the design of both asphalt and plain-jointed concrete pavements are soil subgrade strength and the design traffic. This paper applied popular design methods for both pavement types to compare construction and maintenance costs of typical sections over a length of one kilometer. It was found that there was difference in the respective costs justifying that it is economically viable to use rigid pavements for urban roads.