What does pavement design involve in the context of soils and aggregates?

Pavement design in the context of soils and aggregates fundamentally revolves around selecting appropriate materials and layer thicknesses based on anticipated traffic loads. This process involves understanding how different materials, such as aggregates and sub-base soils, will respond under the weight and stresses of traffic, ensuring that the pavement can adequately support these loads over time without excessive deformation or failure.

Factors such as soil stability, load-bearing capacity, and drainage characteristics are crucial in determining the right combination of materials and their respective thicknesses within the pavement structure. This careful design helps ensure longevity and performance, addressing critical engineering principles such as structural integrity and environmental conditions.

Other aspects, like pavement color and texture, do not primarily influence the structural performance or load-bearing capacity of the pavement but might affect aesthetic or functional characteristics such as skid resistance or heat absorption. Similarly, focusing solely on surface materials neglects the importance of the underlying layers that contribute to overall strength and durability. Measuring pavement temperature might have relevance in specific contexts, such as determining thermal expansion, but is not central to the design process related to the soil and aggregate structural framework.