--- title: "Construction steps of cement concrete pavement" subject: "Transportation Engineering II" chapter: 3 key: "semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii:cc-pavement-construction-steps" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/cc-pavement-construction-steps site: BCT Engineering --- # Construction steps of cement concrete pavement Transportation Engineering II · Chapter 3: Road Construction Technology - Asked in: 2075 Asoj, 8 marks - Video: [How Modern Roads Are Built? Highway Construction Process](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juWc-DpFolY) — Civil Mentors - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/cc-pavement-construction-steps - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/chapter-3 ## Question Describe the construction steps of cement concrete pavement. ## Short answer Cement concrete pavement steps: prepare subgrade and sub-base, set forms, fix dowels and tie bars, batch and mix, place, compact, finish and texture, cure for 14 days, saw and seal joints, open after 28 days. Concrete has flexural strength about 4.5 MPa. ## Answer **Cement concrete pavement (Pavement Quality Concrete, PQC)** is built as a slab on a sub-base following IRC:15 (construction of concrete roads), IRC:58 and MoRTH Section 600; Nepal DoR specifications follow the same steps. **Materials**: ordinary Portland cement (OPC 43/53, IS:269) or PPC; fine aggregate (zone II sand); crushed stone coarse aggregate of maximum size 31.5 mm (usually 20-26.5 mm), abrasion value below 35 percent, flakiness below 25 percent; potable water; admixtures if needed; dowel bars (plain mild steel), tie bars (deformed), joint filler and sealant (hot or cold poured), curing compound. The concrete has a flexural strength of about 4.5 MPa (M40, w/c ratio below 0.45). **Construction steps** 1. **Sub-grade and sub-base**: prepare and compact the subgrade; lay a Dry Lean Concrete (DLC) or granular sub-base with a separation layer of polythene sheet (125 micron) on top. 2. **Setting out and forms**: fix steel side forms (for fixed-form paving) rigidly to line and level, or set string lines for a slip-form paver. 3. **Dowels and tie bars**: fix dowel bars on cradles/baskets at transverse joints and tie bars at the longitudinal joint before concreting (or insert them with the paver's dowel inserter). 4. **Batching and mixing**: batch aggregates and cement by weight in a batching plant and mix in a central plant (or transit mixer); slump about 25-50 mm (workability suited to the paver). 5. **Placing**: place the concrete in a uniform layer, slightly above the final level, without disturbing the dowel baskets. 6. **Compaction**: use needle vibrators along edges and joints, and a screed or surface vibrator; a slip-form paver compacts, shapes and finishes in one pass. 7. **Finishing**: float, check with a straight edge, and texture (broom or tining) for skid resistance; surface tolerance 3 mm under a 3 m straight edge. 8. **Curing**: spray a curing compound immediately, then cover with wet hessian or polythene; keep moist for at least 14 days, and protect from rain, sun and wind. 9. **Joints**: saw-cut contraction joints (about 3-5 mm wide, 1/4 to 1/3 of the slab depth) within about 6-18 hours of laying; form expansion and construction joints; seal them with sealant after cleaning. 10. **Opening**: allow traffic after the concrete attains the specified strength, generally after 28 days (light vehicles may be allowed earlier, at about 75 percent of the design strength). **Quality control**: tests on cement, aggregate and water; slump (every batch/truck); cube strength (3 cubes per 30 m3 at 7 and 28 days) and flexural beam tests; temperature of concrete (between 5 and 30 C); thickness by levels or cores (+-5 mm); level and evenness with a straight edge; checks on dowel alignment, joint depth and curing records. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is placed over the DLC or granular sub-base before concrete? A. A prime coat of cutback B. A polythene separation sheet (125 micron) C. A layer of loose sand 50 mm D. Nothing, concrete is cast directly Answer: B. Polythene sheet prevents moisture loss from fresh concrete and reduces friction with the sub-base. (Key point: Separation layer) 2. Where are dowel bars and tie bars placed? A. Dowels at transverse joints, tie bars at the longitudinal joint B. Both at the edges of the slab only C. Dowels at the longitudinal joint, ties at transverse joints D. Both in the middle of the slab Answer: A. Dowels transfer load across transverse joints; tie bars hold lanes together at the longitudinal joint. (Key point: Dowel and tie bars) 3. How long should PQC be cured? A. 1 day B. At least 14 days (7 days minimum), with compound and wet cover C. Only until the surface looks dry D. 60 days Answer: B. Curing compound plus wet hessian or polythene is kept for at least 14 days, 7 days minimum. (Key point: Curing) 4. When and how deep are contraction joints saw-cut? A. After 28 days, full depth B. Within 6-18 hours, 1/4 to 1/3 slab depth, about 3 mm wide C. Before concrete is placed, 1/2 depth D. Within 5 minutes, 2 mm Answer: B. Early sawing at 1/4-1/3 depth controls shrinkage cracking by creating a weakened plane. 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