This book is the second edition of Concrete Pavement Design, Construction, and Performance, a title that immediately attracts the attention of professionals in this area of specialisation. The first edition, which appeared in 2008, was regarded as a one-stop source of up-to-date information regarding all aspects of concrete pavement technology, ranging from design to construction; the American Concrete Pavement Association and the Portland Cement Association termed it as the most comprehensive reference on the subject of concrete pavement. The immediate acceptance of the text was natural as it has been authored by a person who enjoys a high reputation, not only as a teacher but also as a researcher. The author is serving on various committees related to concrete in the capacity of chair and member, and is also the editor of one of the ASCE journals. The vast experience of Dr Norbert J. Delatte, Jr, PE led to a text that provides a solid foundation for seeking relevant and applicable design, construction and performance instructions for students, pavement engineers and researchers.
The second edition not only retains the title, but also the front cover, along with the publishing house, the Taylor & Francis Group. This edition has almost 50 more pages in comparison with the first edition, and retains almost all tables and figures, except those that needed to be replaced or deleted. The table of contents; however, now contains subheadings, which makes it easier for the reader to reach directly any desired part of the book. The list of references and bibliography has mostly been relevantly updated; however, the number of references remains almost the same.
The second edition of the book has 22 chapters, four of these are an addition to the first edition, and are inserted at appropriate places. ‘Sustainability of concrete pavement' is a new chapter and, as the topic has acquired immense importance in recent years, it is inserted immediately after the second chapter. This new chapter deals with life-cycle analysis, the design of sustainable concrete pavements, recycling and reuse, and the sustainability rating system. The other three new chapters, ‘Mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide', ‘Pervious concrete pavements' and ‘Roller-compacted concrete pavements' are primarily more elaborated versions of subheadings discussed under a given chapter in the first edition. ‘Mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide' is now placed as chapter 10, and it is also an expanded and elaborated version of a subheading contained in chapter 8 of the first edition. The topic has been treated in an elaborate fashion and various aspects of the title subject are dealt with comprehensively. Chapter 12, ‘Pervious concrete pavements' in this edition is a new chapter representing an elaboration of a subheading in chapter 9 of the first edition; it is studded with new figures and covers various aspects that required a slightly more comprehensive treatment. Similarly, ‘Roller-compacted concrete pavements' is positioned as chapter 15, having been separated out from chapter 11 of the first edition, for more rigorous treatment. The original chapter on industrial pavement design, which is now placed as chapter 14, has also been expanded by adding new subheadings.
The second edition not only offers significant insight into the theoretical framework underlying frequently used design procedures, but also highlights significant innovations, as well as addressing issues of management, maintenance, rehabilitation and overlays for pavements.
Revised editions of such a text would always find their place in university libraries, on consultants' shelves and on students' bedside tables. The second edition, therefore, is a very welcome publication that will be equally useful for related professionals, teachers, researchers and students.
