STUDENTS' CORNER - 172
Logistics:
Infrastructure- roads
In this session, we shall see about two kinds of roads: WBM Roads and
Concrete Roads.
WBM Roads
 Water is used to bind the materials, the
interlocked crushed aggregates
WBM stands
for Water Bound Macadam. Let me explain in simple words how this WBM road is
laid or constructed. On the surface of the road, crushed stones are laid; and
to interlock the separate stones, stone dust is used; the crushed stones are
laid along with sand, gravel and slug; all these put together are called
aggregates. Finally, water is used as a binding agent and then they are rolled
on for making the surface even. The
thickness of the layer depends on the size of the aggregates used. Allowing the
paved road to dry is the final act in the construction of this WBM road.
The word
Macadam refers to the name of the Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam who
pioneered this kind of road construction.
Concrete roads
Concrete road
Water,
aggregate, and Portland cement--- these three go in the making of concrete.
Usually cement is in the power form and it is used as a binding agent as water
is used in WBM roads.
Concrete
roads are durable and safe since the surface is generally smooth; they are less
prone to wear and tear; and it does not require much expensive maintenance.
In our next
session, we shall move on to tailored transportation as part of the role of
transportation in supply chain.
