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Improvement of pavement design and management for more frequent flooding caused by climate change
Author(s)
Wang, Yuhong
Huang, Yu
Rattanachot, Wit
Lau, K. K.
Suwansawas, Suchatvee
Date Issued
April 1, 2015
Type
Article
Abstract
Climatological records show a trend of the increasing occurrence of extreme weathers caused by global climate change. One form of extreme weathers is heavy rainfall which, combined with rising sea levels, made highways in some subtropical regions susceptible to flooding. Flooding in these regions causes noticeable damages to flexible highway pavements. However, little research has been conducted to quantify such damages and develop possible mitigation measures. This study developed a method to incorporate flood risk into the structural analysis of flexible pavements, examined the effects of flooding on pavement materials and structures through laboratory tests and design simulations, and recommended better pavement design and management strategies. Flexible pavement is found to be significantly affected by flooding. Future climate change and the resultant increase of flooding frequency pose a serious challenge to the reliability of flexible highway pavements. To mitigate the detrimental effects of flooding, pavement thickness and drainage system need to be adequately designed and post-flood traffic control may need to be imposed.
Citation
Advances in Structural Engineering, 18(4), 487-496, 2015