Concrete pavements – recommended slump range for fresh paving concrete For proper control of consistency during pavement construction, the slump of freshly mixed concrete should generally be within:

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 3 to 5 cm

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Pavement concrete requires low workability compared with many structural concretes. Excessive slump can cause edge slump, loss of surface texture, segregation, and poor finish, especially with slip-form pavers. Therefore, codes and field practice prescribe a relatively small slump window.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Machine-placed or well-vibrated paving concrete.
  • Standard consistency control by slump test.
  • Ambient conditions are typical; admixture usage is not extreme.



Concept / Approach:
Low-to-medium workability provides adequate consolidation under internal/external vibration while maintaining slab shape. Many specifications recommend slump roughly in the 25–50 mm range (about 3–5 cm) for pavement construction to balance finishability and stability.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Recognize that paving concrete workability is kept low.Adopt the common recommended range ≈ 3–5 cm.Select the matching option.



Verification / Alternative check:
Field manuals and paving guides confirm 25–50 mm slump for conventional paving mixes in moderate climates.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • 4–6 cm and 5–7 cm: borderline higher; may be acceptable with strict control, but 3–5 cm is the classic target.
  • 7–10 cm and 10–12 cm: too high for stable slip-form paving; risk of edge deformation.



Common Pitfalls:
Equating higher slump with better quality. For pavements, too much slump harms dimensional control and surface performance.



Final Answer:
3 to 5 cm

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