TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (KCE602)
Section-wise Important Notes & Answers
SECTION A – Short Answer Notes (2 Marks Each)
1. Role of Transportation in Modern Society
Transportation plays a vital role in economic development by enabling movement of people, goods, and services. It supports trade, industry, agriculture, employment generation, and regional development.
2. Arterial Road
An arterial road is a major road designed for fast and efficient movement of traffic between important areas of a city with limited access points.
3. Bump Integrator
A bump integrator is an instrument used to measure surface unevenness of roads by recording vertical movements of a vehicle wheel.
4. Camber
Camber is the transverse slope provided to the road surface to drain rainwater quickly and protect pavement layers.
5. Traffic Capacity and Jam Density
Traffic capacity is the maximum number of vehicles passing a point per hour.
Jam density is the maximum density when traffic speed becomes zero.
6. Level of Service (LOS)
LOS is a qualitative measure describing traffic flow conditions such as speed, delay, comfort, and safety, graded from A (best) to F (worst).
7. Radius of Relative Stiffness
It is a parameter in rigid pavement design indicating the ability of slab to distribute wheel load over subgrade.
8. Warping Stresses in CC Pavement
Warping stresses occur due to temperature gradients between top and bottom of concrete slab causing curling.
9. Fatty Surface (Flexible Pavement Defect)
A fatty surface occurs due to excess bitumen, resulting in a smooth, shiny, slippery surface.
10. Alligator Cracking
Alligator cracking is a network of cracks resembling alligator skin caused by fatigue failure due to repeated traffic loads.
SECTION B – Long Answer Notes (10 Marks)
1. Historical Development of Roads & Roman Roads
Early roads were earthen tracks. Roman roads were well-engineered with strong foundations, drainage systems, straight alignment, and stone pavements, making them durable and efficient.
2. Transition Curve Length (Numerical Problem)
Used to introduce superelevation gradually between straight road and circular curve.
Key parameters include design speed, rate of superelevation, pavement width, and rotation method.
3. Grade Separated Intersection
An intersection where traffic streams cross at different levels to eliminate conflicts.
Examples include cloverleaf, trumpet, and diamond interchanges.
4. Greenshields Stream Model
It establishes a linear relationship between speed and density:
U = Uf (1 – k/kj)
where U = speed, k = density, kj = jam density.
5. Aggregate Tests
Common tests include impact, crushing, abrasion, soundness, and shape tests.
Aggregate Impact Value =
W1−W2W1×100\frac{W_1 - W_2}{W_1} \times 100W1W1−W2×100
SECTION C – Medium Answer Notes (10 Marks)
1. Twenty-Year Road Development Plans
1st Plan (Nagpur Plan): Focus on national and state highways
2nd Plan (Bombay Plan): Emphasis on rural road connectivity
2. Central Road Fund & Jayakar Committee
Central Road Fund finances road development through fuel tax.
Jayakar Committee recommended road planning, CRF creation, and IRC formation.
