Which statement best defines rigid pavement?

Which statement best defines rigid pavement?

• A. A pavement made of asphalt only.
• B. A variant of flexible pavement with higher elasticity.
• C. Pavement that contains Portland Cement Concrete and is considered stiff.
• D. A pavement designed for foot traffic.

Answer: (C)

Rigid pavement is defined by using Portland cement concrete and behaving as a stiff, load‑carrying slab. The stiffness comes from concrete’s high modulus of elasticity, so the pavement resists bending and distributes wheel loads over a wide area with minimal surface deflection. This contrasts with flexible pavements, which rely on asphalt and layered materials to flex and deform under load. The fourth option shifts away from the structural concept, focusing on foot traffic, which isn’t what defines rigid pavement. Therefore, the statement that it contains Portland Cement Concrete and is stiff best captures what rigid pavement is.

Rigid pavement is defined by using Portland cement concrete and behaving as a stiff, load‑carrying slab. The stiffness comes from concrete’s high modulus of elasticity, so the pavement resists bending and distributes wheel loads over a wide area with minimal surface deflection. This contrasts with flexible pavements, which rely on asphalt and layered materials to flex and deform under load. The fourth option shifts away from the structural concept, focusing on foot traffic, which isn’t what defines rigid pavement. Therefore, the statement that it contains Portland Cement Concrete and is stiff best captures what rigid pavement is.