Social impact of failures in laminated concrete roads

on collapsible soils in urban pavements

Impacto social de las fallas en vías de concreto laminado sobre suelos

colapsables en pavimentos urbanos

Gerber Josafatt Zavala Ascaño

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1088-4543

gzavala@unfv.edu.pe

Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal. Lima, Perú

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the social impact generated by failures in roller-compacted

concrete pavements on urban roads located on collapsible soils in Huancayo. To this end, sections with visible

pavement damage were selected to understand the perceptions of users who regularly travel on these roads. The

compacted concrete pavements on collapsible soils have a significant social impact on residents traveling on the

studied routes in Huancayo, highlighting the importance of considering these effects in urban planning and

maintenance.

Keywords: social impact, roller-compacted concrete, collapsible soils.

Resumen

El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue evaluar el impacto social generado por fallas en pavimentos de

concreto compactado con rodillo en vías urbanas ubicadas sobre suelos colapsables en Huancayo. Para ello, se

seleccionaron tramos con daños visibles en el pavimento, con el fin de comprender la percepción de los usuarios

en SmartPLS, para representar las relaciones entre variables. Los resultados mostraron que las fallas en

pavimentos de concreto compactado con rodillo sobre suelos colapsables tienen un impacto social significativo

en los ciudadanos que circulan por las rutas estudiadas en Huancayo, destacando la importancia de considerar

estos efectos en la planificación y mantenimiento urbano.

Palabras clave: impacto social, concreto compactado con rodillo, suelos colapsables.

Introduction

especially rigid pavements and shallow foundations. This phenomenon occurs in unsaturated metastable soils,

the greatest challenges of modern civil engineering, due to the combination of geotechnical and climatic

characteristics that generate highly vulnerable scenarios for road infrastructure. Although widely described in the

international literature, this phenomenon remains a challenge for local practice, where empirical solutions are often

employed that do not guarantee the durability or optimal performance of the works.

the quality of life of those who travel on them. Failures and deformations hamper daily mobility, increase travel

times, raise transportation costs, and pose risks to road safety, particularly impacting vulnerable populations who

depend on public transportation and stable pedestrian routes. According to a report by the Development Bank of

Latin America and the Caribbean (Alcalá et al., 2023), pavement deterioration causes failures in road infrastructure

Huancayo, where humidity cycles favor differential settlements and premature deterioration of urban pavements

(López et al., 2022).

For example, Choque & Huachalla (2022) revealed the potential for collapse using various criteria and analysis

methods for collapsible soils, providing evidence of their hydromechanical behavior and the effects of collapse.

They highlight the importance of integrating these parameters into structural design to avoid premature failure and

extend pavement life in urban contexts such as Huancayo.

2.9% and 3.9%, while under a load of 1.00 kg/cm² it varies between 3.5% and 5.2%. Considering that these results

indicate collapsible soil conditions, the implementation of soil improvement techniques is recommended (Cañi,

concrete slab may be subjected to additional stresses, accelerating cracking, deformation, and premature failure.

Therefore, the optimal design of RCC on urban roads in Huancayo must rigorously incorporate soil-pavement

interaction, using advanced geotechnical models that evaluate the effect of collapse on pavement performance

throughout its service life.

solutions, allowing construction companies to reduce costs while benefiting road users. Akhnoukh et al. (2025)

demonstrated that the use of RCC results in significant material savings, especially on roads with low subgrade

strength and high traffic volumes. However, the resulting differential settlements and cracks can affect daily

mobility, increase costs, and compromise road safety.

and stable pavements, reducing the ability to mitigate negative impacts on mobility, economy, and safety.

Furthermore, the significant spatial and temporal variability of collapsible soils in Huancayo makes it difficult to

implement standardized technical solutions, highlighting a gap between available technical knowledge and the

practical needs of road management and social welfare.

solutions that, while effective in certain cases, do not guarantee optimal long-term structural performance.

engineering and soil mechanics through a detailed analysis of the interaction between collapse potential and

optimal sizing of RCC on urban roads in Huancayo. The results will be useful for engineers, urban planners, and

infrastructure managers, facilitating the optimization of design and construction criteria that ensure stability and

extend service life under adverse geotechnical conditions. At the national level, various studies have shown

collapsible soils in coastal and jungle areas, causing problems for the durability of urban pavements and roads. In

areas such as Pisco, La Joya, Lambayeque, and Ventanilla, deposits with low natural density and high porosity

have been identified, making them highly susceptible to collapse under load and saturation. Although controlled

compaction can reduce this susceptibility, it does not completely eliminate it, especially in areas affected by intense

Luque et al. (2020) warn that this problem not only compromises the durability of RCCs but also has significant

social and economic impacts, as road failures affect mobility, increase transportation costs, and limit urban

development.

the urgent need for technical proposals that optimize the thickness, structural elasticity, and stability of urban roads

in Huancayo. This study aims to evaluate the social impact of failures in RCC pavements located on collapsible

soils in the city, to establish criteria that ensure the durability, functionality, and sustainability of road infrastructure

under adverse geotechnical conditions. It also seeks to analyze the perceptions and impacts on mobility and costs

for users of roads such as José Carlos Mariátegui Avenue, San Carlos Avenue, Progreso Avenue, Ferrocarril

Avenue, Jacinto Ibarra Avenue, Huancavelica Avenue, Coronel Santibáñez Avenue, Circunvalación Avenue,

Independencia Avenue, and Cantuta Avenue in Huancayo.

Methodology

mobility impacts, costs, and safety of users traveling on roads with pavement defects. The study population

consisted of citizens who regularly travel on urban roads located on collapsible soils in the selected sections.

Av. San Carlos

digitally to users of the selected roads, using platforms such as Google Forms for those with greater technological

proficiency. The variables considered included perceptions of road safety, the impact on travel time and

transportation costs, satisfaction with the road infrastructure, and frequency of use of each road.

sections was conducted to correlate the perceived social impact with the severity of the observed damage.

Spearman's Rho bivariate correlations were used, due to the nonparametric nature of the data, to determine the

Structural equation generated with SmartPLS software

analyzed using SmartPLS software. This model visualizes how these characteristics directly influence the social

impact caused by urban pavement failures. This impact, in turn, impacts various social dimensions. Thus, the

model quantitatively validates that improving elasticity, ensuring adequate thickness, and considering local

geotechnical conditions are fundamental factors in minimizing the social impact associated with failures on urban

roads in Huancayo.

Discussion

how damage to deteriorated road infrastructure negatively impacts mobility and quality of life for users in similar

urban contexts. Furthermore, the multivariate analysis highlighted the importance of adequate pavement thickness

and knowledge of soil characteristics as relevant predictors of social impact. This is directly related to the studies

by Castillo & Reyes (2024) and López et al. (2022), which underscore the need for accurate geotechnical

parameters to extend pavement durability and effectiveness.

social impact is based on technical evidence suggesting that this variable may be less noticeable to users

compared to other more visible indicators, such as surface damage or deterioration (Akhnoukh et al., 2025).

Finally, the validation of the structural model using SmartPLS software reinforces the regression results and

Conclusions

the pavement and soil, social perceptions, and the effects observed on users. This underscores the importance of

prioritizing key technical criteria to mitigate negative impacts in these environments. Although the perception of

structural elasticity did not show a significant influence on social impact, adequate structural designs and a

thorough understanding of geotechnical behavior are essential, as these aspects should not be underestimated

when planning road interventions on the roads studied.

References

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