Sample Technical Report

Structure: Introduction → Methodology → Results → Discussion → Recommendations → Conclusion

Replacement of Soling with Interlocking Concrete Tiles for Campus Pathways

 

Prepared For: Principal, Govt Graduate College Burewala
Prepared By: Civil Engineering Department
Date: 28 October 2025
Location: GGCB Main Campus (Phase I: Admin Block to Science Block Pathway)

1- Introduction

Context:
Existing gravel soling pathways at GGCB face recurring issues:

• Monsoon Damage: 70% erosion during July-August rains (2023–2024 data)
• Safety Hazards: Uneven surfaces cause 3–5 slip incidents/month
• High Maintenance: Annual repair cost: ₨350,000 for 1.2 km pathways

Objective:
Evaluate performance of interlocking concrete tiles (ICT) as a durable, low-maintenance alternative to soling.

2- Methodology

Materials & Installation

Testing Protocol

1.   Load Testing:

o   Simulate foot traffic (500 students/hour) + light vehicles (e.g., maintenance carts)

o   ASTM C936 standards (axial load capacity ≥50 MPa)

2.   Drainage Efficiency:

o   Measure permeability (L/m²/min) during simulated monsoon (50mm/hr rainfall)

3.   Durability:

o   Accelerated wear test (500,000 cycles @ Punjab Transport Research Centre)

3- Results (3-Month Performance: Aug–Oct 2025)

Load Test Data

• Axial Load Capacity: 62 MPa (exceeds ASTM standard)
• Deflection: 1.2mm under 5-ton load (permissible: ≤2mm)

4- Discussion

Technical Advantages:

• Monsoon Resilience: Tile joints prevent water pooling; 450 L/m²/min drainage vs. soling’s 120 L/m²/min.
• Modular Repairs: Damaged tiles replaced individually (cost: ₨200/tile vs. ₨25,000 soling repair/10m).
• Thermal Performance: Surface temp 8°C lower than asphalt in summer (45°C vs. 53°C).

Limitations Observed:

• Initial Cost: ₨1,800/m² (ICT) vs. ₨900/m² (soling) – offset by 5-year lifecycle savings.
• Installation Skill: Requires trained masons for leveling (solved: Punjab Vocational Training provided).

Burewala-Specific Adaptation:

• Tile color: Terracotta red (reduces glare vs. grey)
• Joint width: 5mm (accommodates thermal expansion @ 45°C)

5- Recommendations

Design Improvements:

1.   Use polymeric sand in joints to further reduce weed growth (cost: +₨50/m²).

2.   Install edge restraints along curves to prevent tile displacement.

Implementation Strategy:

Student Training:

• Incorporate ICT installation into Civil Engineering labs (material testing + laying techniques).

Conclusion:
ICT pathways eliminate monsoon erosion, reduce slip risks by 67%, and cut 5-year maintenance costs by ₨1.2 million/km compared to soling. Phase I results validate full-campus rollout.

Attachments:

• A: Load test certification (Punjab PWD)
• B: Drainage simulation videos
• C: Vendor quotations (Chenab Tiles, Lahore)

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