Asphalt Institute Method

Mechanistic-Empirical Methodology
Material
Properties

Trial Layer
Thicknesses

Climate
Models

Structural
Models

Climate
Information

Pavement
Response

Traffic
Information

Failure
Criteria
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory

Final Layer
Thicknesses

Mechanistic-Empirical Methodology
Eac
Material
, Ebs, Esg
Properties
ac, bs, sg

TrialhLayer
ac
Thicknesses
hbs

Freeze/Thaw
Climate
Asphalt
Models
Temp

Structural
DAMA
Models
(LEA)

Climate
MAAT
Information
(F)

Pavement
max
asphalt t
max
subgrade c
Response

Traffic
ESALS
Information

NfFailure
(fatigue)
(rutting)
NdCriteria
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory

Final Layer
Thicknesses

Pavement Response

Fatigue Failure Criterion

N f 0.0796 t
Asphalt
Fatigue
Life

Asphalt
Tensile
Strain

3.291

* 0.854

Asphalt
Resilient
Modulus

Rutting Failure Criterion

N d 1.365 10
Subgrade
Fatigue
Life

4.477

Subgrade
Compressive
Strain

Traffic

ESAL ADT T Tf D L G 365

Climatic Regions

MAAT
(F)
45
60
75

Asphalt
Grades
AC-5, AC-10
AC-10, AC-20
AC-40

Viscosity,
(106 poise)
0.6
1.6
5.0

Frost
Effects
Yes
Possible
No

Mean Monthly Air Temperatures

South Carolina (MAAT = 60F)

Jan 45F

May 56F

Sept 78F

Feb 38F

Jun 70F

Oct 73F

Mar 43F

Jul

78F

Nov 58F

Apr 45F

Aug 81F

Dec 54F

Pavement Temperatures
40
35

Temperature (C)

30

Asphalt
Air

25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
08/01/97

08/01/98

08/01/99

08/01/00

08/01/01

Pavement Temperature
Mean monthly
air temperature (F)

1 34

M p M a 1
6

z 4 z 4
Mean monthly
asphalt temp. (F)

Depth (in)

Pavement Temperature
Temperature (F)
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Depth (in)

Air

Pavement

Air

10

15

20

Ground

25

Pavement

90

Asphalt Modulus
% passing
#200 sieve

Vol. air
content %

log E c1 c2 P200 f
*

c8 Vb T
0.5

Vol. binder
content (%)

c3

Asphalt
viscosity

c V c c

c c f
4 a

c9 c10 log f

c13

11

Asphalt
temp.

c7

12

Loading
freq.

Unbound Base Modulus

M R K1 K2

Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM

Unbound Base Modulus

0.471 0.041 0.139

1
2
1

E2 10.447h

Base
Modulus

Asphalt
Thickness

Base
Thickness

Asphalt
Modulus

E3

0.287

Subgrade
Modulus

0.868
1

Unbound Base Modulus

hs Es hb Eb
E1
hs hb
3

s = surface course
b = binder course

Subgrade Modulus
South Carolina
(60F MAAT)

2 Months

4 Months

5 Months

50,000 psi

4,000 psi
12,000 psi
22,500 psi

1,350 psi
7,200 psi
18,000 psi

January

January

Asphalt Institute Method

Asphalt Institute Method