CE25405 Highway Engineering – Semester IV – Civil – R-2025

Subject Code & Name: CE25405 – Highway Engineering

Regulation: R-2025

Semester: IV (Fourth Semester)

Branch: B.E. Civil Engineering (Civil)

Credits / L-T-P: 4 Credits | L-T-P: 3-0-2

Course Objectives

• To provide a comprehensive understanding of highway engineering, including planning, alignment, geometric design, pavement materials and design, as well as construction, distresses, and maintenance of pavements for efficient and sustainable transportation systems.

Full Unit-wise Syllabus

Unit I – Highway Planning and Alignment

History of road development in India - Classification of highways - Institutions for Highway planning, design and construction at different levels - factors influencing highway alignment - Road ecology - engineering surveys (conventional and modern).

Activities: Quiz on Highway Planning and Alignment

Unit II – Geometric Design of Highways

Typical Cross sections, sight distances, horizontal alignment (super elevation, transition curves), vertical alignment (gradients, summit and valley curves).

Activities: Poster presentation on geometric design elements. Poster presentation on geometric design of highways

Unit III – Flexible Pavement Design

Desirable properties of subgrade soil, road aggregates and bituminous materials, testing methods - Pavement components and their functions - Factors influencing the design of pavements - IRC guidelines.

Practical: 1. Tests on bitumen (specific gravity, penetration, viscosity, softening point, ductility) 2. Demonstration of Marshall test.

Unit IV – Rigid Pavement Design

Components, stresses (Westergaard theory), temperature and frictional stresses, joints, dowel and tie bars, IRC guidelines.

Activities: Field visit to pavement construction site.

Unit V – Highway Construction and Maintenance

Construction of pavement layers, sustainable materials, methods and machinery, Highway drainage - Special considerations for hilly roads; Pavement failures - Types and causes of failures in flexible and rigid pavements, Evaluation and Maintenance of Pavements.

Activities: Case study on pavement failures and maintenance methods.

Tasks (Any 2 tasks)

• Task 1: Highway Alignment and Geometric Design Select a route and design horizontal and vertical alignment with proper sight distance and cross-sectional elements.
• Task 2: Flexible Pavement Design Design a flexible pavement using IRC guidelines based on given traffic and soil data.
• Task 3: Rigid Pavement Design Analyze stresses and design a rigid pavement slab with joints and reinforcement details.
• Task 4: Pavement Evaluation and Maintenance Plan Identify pavement distresses from a case study and propose suitable maintenance and rehabilitation measures.

Course Outcomes (COs)

• CO1: Explain the principles of highway planning, alignment, and geometric design considering traffic, safety, environmental, and ecological factors.
• CO2: Design flexible and rigid pavements using IRC guidelines based on material properties, traffic loading, and subgrade characteristics.
• CO3: Evaluate highway materials and pavement performance through standard laboratory tests, field studies, and failure analysis.
• CO4: Analyze highway construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation practices using modern materials, equipment, and technologies.

Assessment Pattern (Quick Note)

• Weightage: Continuous Assessment 50% | End Semester Examinations 50% Methodology for Continuous Assessment: Quiz - 10%, Poster presentation - 15%; Site visit report – 10%; Model making – 15%; Internal Examinations – 50% References 1. Khanna, S.K., Justo, C.E.G. G. and Veeraragavan A., Highway Engineering, Nem Chand and Bros, Roorkee, 2015(latest reprint available in 2024–2025). 2. Kadiyali, L.R., and Lal, N.B. Principles and Practice of Highway Engineering, Khanna Publishers, Reprint Edition, 2023. 3. Indian Road Congress (IRC), Guideline for design of flexible pavements- IRC:37-2018 4. Indian Road Congress (IRC), Guidelines for the Design of Plain Jointed Rigid Pavements for Highways-IRC:58-2015. 5. Khanna, S.K., Justo. C.E.G. and Veeraragavan A. Highway Materials and Pavement Testing, Nem Chand and Bros., Roorkee, Revised Fifth Edition,2022 reprint available. 6. IRC:73-1980 – Geometric Design of Highways 7. IRC:37-2018 – Flexible Pavement Design 8. IRC:58-2015 – Rigid Pavement Design 9. IRC: SP:11-2015 – Quality Control in Highway Construction E-Resources 1. https://ts-nitk.vlabs.ac.in/ (Virtual labs) 2. National Highways Authority of India manuals and circulars : https://nhai.gov.in/

Source: Official Anna University – B.E. Civil Engineering R-2025 Syllabus
Last Updated: October 2026