Concrete Pavement Fundamentals Concrete pavement is the most versatile pavement available. They are used as sidewalks that support foot traffic to runways that support 350,000 pound aircraft. They may be designed for a life of 5, 10, 20 and even 50 years, a range that far exceeds what is possible with any other pavement material. Each concrete pavement consists of a number of important components. Engineers can select options for these components to produce a unique design that is tailored to specific project needs. Learn more about the fundamentals by choosing a category or clicking a component label in the diagram. Differences Concrete/Asphalt Concrete Types Concrete Material Basics Fast-Track Concrete Basics Concrete Paving Basics Smoothness Surface Texture Curing Concrete Joints Subbases and Subgrades Specification Basics Restoring and Patching Resurfacing Reconstructing and Recycling Life Cycle Cost Analysis As a result of the versatility and the range of features, not all concrete pavements are alike. This is certainly evident when comparing the pavements designed by state Departments of Transportation and other design and specifying agencies. For more information on the prevailing practice of each state agency check the State Agency Practices Database.