Historical Development of Road-Transportation Engineering
Transportation is vital for the development of road in every country.Here we are going through some milestone that changes the development of roads.
Historical development of Road
1.3500 BC Mesapotamia
Invention of wheel and necessity of hard surface for wheeled to move,paved the way for road building
2.Roman Roads - 315 BC
Pioneers in road construction
580KM
No cross slope or gradient
3.Pierre Tresaguet(1716-1796) in France
Father of modern highway engineering
Thickness of road can be only 30cm
Cross slope of 1 in 45 on top wearing course for surface drainage.
Shoulders also with cross slope to drain surface water to side drain
4 Metcalf method (1717-1810) in England
Followed recommendations of robert Phillips
290Km of road in northern region of England
His work is not recorded as he is blind
5 Thomas Telford (1757 -1834)
Founder of institution of civil engineers at london
Provided cross slope from foundation itself by varying thickness of foundation stories
Provided cross drains at intervels of about 90m
No kerb stones are used
6 John Mc adams (1756-1836)
Gave scientific method of road construction
Realised not to provide strong foundation at subgrade as wheel load of traffic gets dispersed and intensity decreases at lower layers
Surface course with stones passing 20mm sieve
Sub grade is compacted and cross slope of 1 in 36 is provided from sub grade itself
Improvement of strength of top layers.
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