Concrete Roads

The concrete pavement industry is actively seeking new and innovative solutions to build more economical, more sustainable and more durable roads. CUPOLEX® is an innovative concrete pavement technology that is evolving the Road and Highway construction industry where roads are not made of asphalt. CUPOLEX® consists of interlocking, modular, dome-shaped, high density plastic units that serve as a permanent formwork within the concrete pavement structure.

The resulting product is a concrete pavement slab with a system of interconnected vault-like voids below the surface that can be used to host utilities, pipes that can be easily monitored and maintained, moreover the void can be used to harvest and manage stormwater especially during a large storm event.
The dome shape is capable of providing carrying capacities equivalent to conventional concrete thickened pavements, but requires less concrete to do so and also provides additional drainage and ventilation benefits, while also being able to resist the pressure from freezing or expanding soil. CUPOLEX® technology can provide significant material cost savings, when compared to conventional jointed plain concrete pavements.

CUPOLEX® is capable of providing carrying capacities equivalent to conventional slabs
Requires less concrete
The under slab void reduces the slab’s contact with the base layers
Water cannot leach up through the bottom of the concrete slab, providing protection from moisture and humidity
The under slab void also allows for the quick, easy and cost-effective installation and repair of buried utilities, such as cables and pipes, after construction
The CUPOLEX® system has inherent properties associated with the dome shape which reduce slab curling, when compared to conventional concrete pavements
The use of CUPOLEX® can also reduce the need for granular base materials or engineered fill
Can also be incorporated into creative stormwater management solutions below roads and pavements

Effective control of expansive soils and frost action below pavements
Reduces the environmental impact by saving concrete and conserves valuable aggregate
One truckload of CUPOLEX® replaces over 50 truckloads of gravel
CUPOLEX® is compatible with conventional slipform paving equipment, allowing for fast and easy paving
CUPOLEX® slabs have a low potential for cracking; low overall variability in strains reduces the potential for fatigue failures
The ability of CUPOLEX® to reduce the initial construction costs of concrete pavements can make them much more economical to transportation agencies
CUPOLEX® can be integrated into pervious concrete pavements

A 150mm thick CUPOLEX road is equivalent to a 250mm traditional JPCP concrete road
Considering the concrete necessary to fill the CUPOLEX elements, there is an average of 20% material saving for an equivalent road
Elements and labor for installation costs needs to be considered
Tests have demonstrated that reinforcement is not always necessary, hence there is a big saving on steel material
CUPOLEX technology is more economical than a traditional JPCP concrete road
For a more precise cost analysis in north america visit this link