Structure of roadway in France - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

The structures of roadway defined in the French catalog of the standard structures of roadways are similar to those which one finds in the other countries, however the concept of Subgrade being purely French, this article is devoted to the families of standard structures in France.

They consist of several layers as I' indicates the following diagram

Six families of structures are defined.

Thick bituminous roadways

They are composed of a bituminous surfacing on a material base treated with the bitumen binders;

Roadways with base treated with the hydraulic binders

They include/understand a bituminous surfacing on a material base treated with the hydraulic binders.

See also: Fitted with base treated with the hydraulic binders

Mixed structures

They comprise a surfacing and a base course out of bituminous materials on a sub-base out of materials treated with the hydraulic binders. Moreover, the report/ratio thickness of bituminous materials to the total thickness of roadway is of 0,5;.

Cement-concrete surfacings

The concrete bed of cement, which is also used as wearing course, rests either on a sub-base out of materials treated with the hydraulic binders or lean concrete, or on a course drainage out of granular materials (" pave épaisse") maybe on a layer of bituminous mix resting itself on a subgrade treated with the hydraulic binders.

See also: Structure of cement-concrete surfacing

Flexible structures

They comprise a relatively thin bituminous cover, resting on one or more layers of untreated granular materials.

The structures opposite

They are composed of a surfacing and a base course out of bituminous materials, on a layer in serious untreated low thickness, resting itself on a subgrade treated with the hydraulic binders which also plays the part of sub-base.