AASHTO:

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which
publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction
throughout the United States. Despite its name, the association represents not only highways but air, rail, water,
and public transportation as well.

AASHTO EQUATION FOR FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT:

The basic equation for flexible pavement design given in the 1993 AASHTO design guide permits engineers to
determine a structural number (thickness index) necessary to carry a designated traffic loading. The AASHTO
equation is

LOG10W18 = ZRSO + 9.36 [LOG10 (SN+1)] - 0.20 + LOG10 [ΔPSI/2.7] +2.32LOG10MR -8.07
0.40 + [1094/ (SN+1) 5.19]

Where:-

W18 = 18-kips equivalent single axle load

ZR = Reliability ( z-statistic from the standard normal curve )
So = Overall standard deviation of traffic
SN = Structural number
ΔPSI = Loss in serviceability from the time the pavement is new until it reaches its TSI
MR = Soil resilient modulus of the subgrade in lb/inch2

It is very difficult to calculate structural number using calculator another approach to calculate structural number is
Design chart* it also needs time and concentration for interpolation.

*DESIGN CHART
In order to save the time and having correct answer I have made a table for the calculation of AASHTO
equation for flexible pavement on excel worksheet.

How to use:

By using this worksheet you can calculate any of the variables given in the AASHTO equation.

For Structural number (SN):

Put the values of all variables in second column and check different values of SN till the values at both
sides does not match each other.
For all other Variables go to respected column and fill the values of all variables except the unknown and
you will get the answer of that unknown in its respective row.

Example:

If So is unknown:

Go to column number 5 put values of all variables except the unknown you will get its value in the
colored cell of table.

Click Here to Open Worksheet:

AASHTO EQUATION
FOR FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT.xlsx