CE 467: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

PRE-EXAM TEST

APRIL 2021 DURATION: 1 Hour 45 min

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN BOTH SECTIONS

SECTION A

1. Which of the following is not true about the sub-grade in a flexible pavement structure?
a) The sub-grade is the bottommost and weakest layer
b) The sub-grade extends to infinity in depth but not in lateral extent
c) When analysing the state of stress in the sub-grade induced by external loading, the
layer is assumed to have homogenous, isotropic and elastic properties.
d) Prevention of failure in the sub-grade under traffic loading influences the nature of the
pavement structure.

2. An asphalt concrete mix was prepared to an asphalt content of 4.5%. Determine the
quantity of aggregates in 0.4kg sample of the mix.
a) 0.124kg
b) 0.180kg
c) 0.382kg
d) 0.355kg

3. The VFA of a compacted overlay was determined to be 62%. What proportion of the voids
in mineral aggregates of the overlay is occupied by binder?
a) 62%
b) 6.2%
c) 40%
d) 38%

4. Rock aggregates of granitic origin used for road construction are always far superior in
quality than those of metamorphic origin.
a) True b) False

5. Rigid pavements reinforced with steel are able to carry more traffic load than those without
steel reinforcement.
a) True b) False

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6. Which property of aggregates will not affect their selection for asphalt concrete formulation?
a) Flakiness Index
b) Particle Size Distribution
c) 10% Fines Value
d) Water Absorption Value
7. Which interlocking concrete block pavement stability is derived from the shape characteristics
of the block?
a) Horizontal interlock b) Edge restraint c) Geometrical interlock d) Vertical interlock

8. The theoretical maximum density of an asphalt concrete mixture is 2480kg/m3. Given that the
mixture was compacted to an air voids content of 7% in the field, what percentage of the
theoretical maximum density was achieved by the field compaction?
Ans; …………………………

9. The CBR selected for the design of a new road was very close to the lowest CBR obtained
from sampling at several locations along the proposed alignment. What can be said about the
nature of the design traffic?
a) Light
b) Medium
c) Heavy
d) There is no way to know
10. In surface dressing operations, over application of binder on the base course is likely to result
in which type of surface defect?
a) Bleeding
b) Loss of cover aggregates
c) Streaking
d) Potholes
11. State one method by which dowel bars in rigid pavement construction may be lubricated.
Ans: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. A flexible pavement structure is to be designed to a reliability of at least 95% by the AASHTO
Method. What is the nature of the traffic anticipated during the life of the pavement?
a) Light b) Medium c) Heavy d) No particular level of traffic
13. The strength of the sub-grade of flexible pavements and the level of traffic are not the only
parameters that dictate the thickness of the pavement required to prevent failure.
a) True b) False

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14.

h1 E1=800MPa
420mm Ee
250mm E2=350MPa

Sub-grade Sub-grade

(a) (b)
Fig. 1
In Figure 1 above, the pavement structure in (a) has been transformed to the structure in (b)
using the method of equivalent modulus. Determine the following parameters associated with
the pavement structures:

i. h1= -------------------------

ii. Ee= -------------------------

15. Which characteristics of aggregates for road construction is the 10% Fines Test intended to
measure?
a) Particle size
b) Strength
c) Shape
d) Type of geologic origin
16. State the major purpose for the use of dowel bars in rigid pavement construction
Ans:……………………………………………………………………………….
17. How many pavement layers exist above the sub-grade in a flexible pavement structure referred
to as a “full depth pavement”?
Ans:

18. Which of the following outcomes is likely to result when aggregates with very high silica
content are used in asphalt concrete overlays?
a) Low stability of the overlay
b) High air voids content of the overlay
c) Stripping problems in the overlay
d) High bulk density of the overlay

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19. Which attributes of aggregates will not affect their selection for asphalt concrete formulation?
a) Flakiness Index
b) Geologic origin
c) 10% Fines Value
d) Water Absorption Value
20. Name the phenomenon in rigid pavements depicted by Fig. 2

Ans:
21. The average weight on the front and rear axles of a tipper truck along a haulage route are 5.9ton
and 6.2ton, respectively. Compute the number of standard axles (ESALs) per pass of the loaded
truck.
Ans: ------------------------

22. In pavement design, the CBR of a material used is the one obtained by testing the material
immediately after compaction at the optimum water content.
a) True b) False

23. Mention two characteristics of jointed plain concrete pavements that are not associated with
jointed reinforced concrete pavements.
i.
ii.

24. The structural number (SN) for the protection of the sub-grade of a full-depth gravel pavement
against failure under traffic loading is 3.6cm. If the gravel material used has a structural layer
coefficient, a=0.12 and a drainage coefficient, m=0.8, determine the minimum pavement
thickness required.
Ans: --------------------------

25. List two uses of sand in the construction of interlocking concrete block pavements.

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 SECTION B
Question 1
a) State what causes each of the following defects to occur in surface-dressed roads.
i. Streaking
ii. Loss of cover aggregates
b) Identify the types of rollers used in the compaction of asphalt concrete overlays and state
the type of compaction each undertakes
c) Mention one benefit associated with pre-coating of aggregates to be used in surface
dressings
d) Provide two benefits derived from the priming of the base courses in flexible pavements.
e) Name two types of bituminous surfacing which do not confer structural capacity to
flexible pavements.
f) Explain the reason for pre-coating aggregates for chip seal (surface dressing)
construction.
g) What is the significance of the blue smoke syndrome associated with hot-mix asphalt
production?
h) The following data pertains to an asphalt concrete specimen cored from a new overlay:
Weight in air = 1204.5g
Weight when fully submerged in water = 689.4g
Weight saturated surface dry = 1211.3g
Asphalt content = 4.5%
Gsb = 2.71, Gb = 1.02
If the mix used for the overlay gave a density of 2395kg/m3 under laboratory compaction
and a theoretical maximum density of 2530kg/m3, determine the following for the
overlay:
i. Air voids content (VTM)
ii. VFA
iii. Relative compaction
iv. The theoretical maximum density if the mix had been prepared to an asphalt
content of 5%.
i) Why should samples of asphalt concrete from a hot-mix asphalt plant be subjected to
bitumen content test during asphalt overlay operations?