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CVEN40710

Academic Year 2024/2025

Highway Engineering (CVEN40710)

Subject:
Civil Engineering
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Civil Engineering
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor John O'Sullivan
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Students will be introduced to concepts of pavement engineering and highway design. Bituminous mix characterisation, mix design and volumetric analysis will be a particular focus. Design approaches and developments in test methods will be discussed. Aspects of geometric design will be outlined and the important aspects of pavement evaluation and maintenance will be introduced.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module, students will be able to:
1 Demonstrate an understanding of pavement design, pavement evaluation and maintenance techniques.
2. Select appropriate test methods for the evaluation of highway materials.
3. Analyse and assess test results/data, formulating recommendation.
4. Design bituminous mixtures given aggregate gradations.
5. Solve problems relating to pavement engineering and highway design.

Indicative Module Content:

Week 1
Introduction to module
Development of road network in Ireland & Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) roles and functions

Week 2
Specification, testing and control
Overview of bituminous mixtures
Bitument and bitumen testing

Week 3
Aggregates and aggregate testing
Bituminous mixes, including mix design, mix grading and volumetrics

Week 4
Bituminous mix testing
Group assignment details
Asphalt Manufacture & Laying, FPC and Type Testing

Week 5
Pavement Design
Group short report on mix research

Week 6
Pavement monitoring, management and evaluation
Groups short report on mix design approach

Week 7
Airfield pavements design practice & examples, rehabilitation

Week 8
Compaction
Asphalt healing and emerging technologies

Week 9
Geometric design
Case Study

Weeks 10 & 12
Review

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

12

Autonomous Student Learning

60

Lectures

36

Total

108


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Group work
Presentations
Lectures

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Level 4 standing in a Level 8 programme, or equivalent.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: Bituminous Materials Group Assignment Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
40
No
Exam (In-person): End-of-Trimester Examination End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
60
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Groups given feedback on presentations on mix research, and mix design approach, for group assignment Groups given feedback on group report

ESSENTIAL READING
Nicholls, C. and Hannah, A. (2019). Asphalt Mixture Selection. Taylor & Francis.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING
The Shell Bitumen Handbook
published by Shell Bitumen U.K.

Geometric Design of Roads Handbook
by Keith M. Wolhunter

Traffic Engineering
by R. Roess, W. McShane & E. Prassas

RECOMMENDED READING
Highway Engineering: Pavements, Materials and Control of Quality
by Athanassios Nickolaides

Pavement Engineering, Principles and Practice
by Rajib B. Mallick & Tahar El-Korchi

Asphalts in Road Construction
edited by Robert N Hunter

Deterioration and Maintenance of Pavements
by Derek Pearson

Handbook of Road Technology Volumes 1 and 2
by M.G. Lay

Highway Engineering Handbook
by R. Brockenbrough and K. Boedecker




Name Role
Ms Maria Judge Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 09:00 - 10:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 14:00 - 14:50