Knowledge transferred to students will address the following topics: • Construction types; • Mechanical behavior and durability of materials; • Structural modelling of discrete and multilayered systems; • Modelling of the vehicle-pavement interaction; • Empirical and mechanistic design methods; • Survey methods of in-service distresses and performance; • Maintenance and rehabilitation techniques. At the end of the course students will be able to: • Design pavements and tracks for roads, railways and airports by means of advanced calculation methods; • Evaluate structural and functional conditions of in-service pavements and tracks, with the consequent definition of the most appropriate maintenance and rehabilitation actions.

Students attending the course should already possess knowledge and skills provided by the basic courses of the Bachelor in Civil Engineering and by the course of “Construction of Roads, Railways and Airports”.

• Introductory concepts to pavement and track engineering; • Structural analysis of flexible and rigid pavements; • Structural analysis of railway tracks; • Distresses and damage in flexible and rigid pavements; • Rail defects and railway track distresses; • Structural and functional design of flexible and rigid pavements for roads and airports; • Monitoring and maintenance of pavements and tracks.

Theoretical lectures are supported by exercise sessions and workshops on case studies. In exercise sessions, organized in working groups, students will apply the methods of analysis and design presented during theoretical lectures. In the workshops it will be shown to students how solve real problems in the context of professional and/or research activities in the field of pavements and tracks.

Resources: • Course notes; • Documents available on the course webpage. Supplementary references: • Santagata F.A., et al., Strade. Teoria e Tecnica delle Costruzioni Stradali, vol. I e II, Pearson; • Huang Y.H., Pavement analysis and design, Pearson; • Ullidtz P., Modelling Flexible Pavement Response and Performance, Polyteknisk Forlag; • Esveld C., Modern Railway Track, MRT-Productions; • FHWA (Federal Highway Administration), Distress Identification Manual for the Long-Term Pavement Performance Program; • AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures (1993).

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Group project;

In order to be admitted to the final exam, students must submit a collection of the exercises completed during the course at least one week before the exam date. The collection is checked for completeness and consistency with the assigned activities but is not graded and does not contribute to the final mark. The final exam consists of an oral interview aimed to assess acquired competences in terms of knowledge, understanding and ability to solve problems. Both theoretical and applicative topcs will be evaluated. The final exam consists of a compulsory oral examination aimed at assessing the students’ knowledge and understanding of the course topics, their ability to apply the acquired knowledge to practical cases, and their ability to analyse and solve engineering problems related to pavement and track engineering. The examination includes both theoretical questions and the discussion of practical and application-oriented problems. The oral examination determines 100% of the final mark.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.