Desempenho de pavimentos de baixo custo no Estado do Paraná

Abstract

In this work the finds of a study on the performance of some non conventional pavements in the State of Paraná, Brazil, are presented. Initially, some aspects of the theory and practice of pavement evaluation are discussed. Two main conclusions can be extracted from that analysis: a) it is aparent the necessity for the Highway Departments to equip themselves with roughness indicators; b) it becomes extremely difficult to elaborate a universal classification of pavement surface distress. The vehicular traffic, in terms of equivalent wheel load factors, is also discussed. This discussion draws the conclusion that the pavement designers should make a better use of the theoretical mechanistic approach in order to decide the factors to be used in their designs. Materials used in the construction of non conventional pavements are more or less deeply analysed, giving emphasis to fine sandy soils and basaltic clays. Some theoretical and practical aspects of design and construction of non conventional pavements are also brought to discussion. At the end, the results of seven years of performance evaluations of twelve pavements in the State of Paraná are presented. The conclusion is that low and medium traffic pavements are feasible to be constructed with materials not specified in most specifications under use.