What is the structural function of a pavement in relation to traffic loads?

The structural function of a pavement primarily involves its ability to support various traffic loads and facilitate their transfer to the underlying layers of soil, known as the subgrade. This capability is crucial for maintaining the integrity and longevity of the road surface.

When a vehicle travels over the pavement, its weight generates wheel loads that exert pressure downwards. The pavement is designed to distribute this pressure in such a way that minimizes the stress on the subgrade, preventing deformation or failure of the underlying layers. By effectively supporting the wheel load, the pavement ensures that the entire roadway can withstand repeated traffic stresses without deteriorating.

This functionality is central to roadway design, as proper load distribution is vital for sustaining the pavement's performance and preventing issues like cracking, rutting, or other structural failures over time. Therefore, the primary role of pavement as a structural element in roadway engineering is to support traffic loads and transfer them safely to the subgrade, ensuring the durability and resilience of the entire roadway system.