The principal function of edge courses is to form a retaining structure with concrete bedding and haunching to resist sideway movement arising from traffic loads. Other functions of edge courses include:
(i) It serves as level guides when carrying out screeding of sand bedding.
(ii) It aids in the cutting of paving blocks near edge courses because paving blocks could lie over edge courses and the positions of cutting could be marked accurately without any difficulty. However, if a wall instead of edge courses is located adjacent to the pavement, it is practically difficult to position the paving block over the gap because of the physical hindrance of the wall.
(iii) It could be designed as surface drainage channel to convey stormwater to a discharge point.
(iv) It acts as a frame which defines the shape of pavement.
This question is taken from book named – A Self Learning Manual – Mastering Different Fields of Civil Engineering Works (VC-Q-A-Method) by Vincent T. H. CHU.
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