what is flexible pavement

A flexible pavement is a type of road surface that is composed of a bituminous material surface course and underlying base and subbase courses. The bituminous material is often asphalt, which allows for significant plastic deformation. Flexible pavements are designed to distribute the stress from traffic loads to the subgrade through the lateral distribution of the applied load with depth. They are named "flexible" because the pavement surface reflects the total deflection of all subsequent layers due to the traffic load acting upon it. This type of pavement is commonly used for roads, parking lots, and walkways that don't experience heavy loads too often. It is known for its easy and cost-effective maintenance, and it can be opened for traffic within 24 hours after completion. However, flexible pavement requires routine repairs and maintenance every few years, and it deteriorates rapidly, leading to the appearance of cracks and potholes due to poor drainage and heavy vehicular traffic