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Effect of traffic and environment on pavement. Analysis of stress from axle loads. Characterisation of pavement materials. Empirical and mechanistic-empirical design methods.
This course introduces emerging civil engineers to the subject of pavement engineering. The aim is to explain the fundamentals of pavement materials, mix design, recycling, soil stabilisation, design traffic loadings and the principles of mechanistic pavement design. The course covers the details of backcalculation and deflection analysis of existing pavements and introduction to overlay design. This course is part of the MCIVILENG degree, in which the responsibilities outlined in Te Tiriti o Waitangi are comprehensively addressed through ENGR600, a compulsory course for all students. In addition, this course integrates sustainability principles, including recycling, green pavement technologies, and environmentally conscious design alternatives such as warm mix asphalt and foam bitumen stabilisation. These approaches are well aligned with indigenous knowledge and values, particularly in promoting stewardship of the environment and long-term resilience. In addition, the course materials cover a wide range of topics relevant to tropical climates and regions prone to extreme weather events such as extreme heat or flooding, with a focus on applying this knowledge to achieve durable, long-lasting pavement infrastructure. This is particularly valuable for Pasifika students, as it equips them with practical skills and insights they can take back and apply in their home countries.
1. Students will be able to identify and analyse the various types of pavement distresses in both flexible and rigid pavements, and apply this knowledge based on the pavement design criteria.2. Students will be able to use and implement the SUPERPAVE Performance Grading system for asphalt binders and aggregate requirements for hot mix asphalts, and demonstrate understanding of mix design principles by analysing, comparing, and differentiating between the Superpave Mix Design and the equivalent Austroads “Gyrpac” system. They will also demonstrate an understanding of sustainable pavement design approaches through the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in Hot In-Plant (HIP) and Hot In-Place Recycling (RIP) methods.3. Students will be able to analyse, compare, and differentiate between flexible and rigid pavement systems under realistic traffic axle loads by calculating stresses, strains, and deflections at critical locations. They will assess and justify design approaches using mechanistic-empirical principles and the Westergaard method, including the calculation of design traffic volumes and required reinforcement in rigid pavements. Students will also be able to critique and interpret non-destructive testing data, such as from the Falling Weight Deflectometer, to perform backcalculations of pavement layer moduli, and formulate complete pavement designs aligned with current best-practice guidelines.4. Students will be able to conduct research, either experimental or analytical, in the field of pavement engineering.5. Students will be able to present their research outcomes in the form of a technical article or report.6. Students will be able to deliver professional research presentations and respond appropriately to questions from the audience.
ENCN221
ENCN415
Students must attend one activity from each section.
Mofreh Saleh
Mid-Semester Test - 30%Final Exam - 40%Quiz 1 - 5%Quiz 2 - 5%Lab Report - 8%Research paper - 12%Total 100%Notes:The mid-semester test will cover subjects until the last lecture of term 1. The final exam will be comprehensive covering both term 1 and term 2 with more focus on term 2 materials.
Domestic fee $1,344.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Civil and Environmental Engineering .