IMPORTANCE OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT DESIGN FOR VARIOUS CLIMATIC ZONES: A PROPOSAL FOR VIETNAM

Abstract

Vietnam is one of nations having its territory located along numerous latitudes. Thus, Vietnam’s climate is various in different geographical areas while flexible pavement performance is remarkably dependent on environmental conditions. Therefore, pavement design in general and flexible pavement design in particular should be carried out under Vietnam’s climatic zones, especially for freeways and expressways being suffered from heavy loads and high traffic volumes. This is aimed at striclty implementing economic - engineering - environmental principles in transport construction projects. Via literature review and analyses by applying their specialized knowledge and experience, the authors have introduced a general overview of some flexible pavement design methods accompanied with consideration of climatic factors in the world in order to create a proposal for Vietnam.