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FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT THICKNESS DESIGN

AASHTO METHOD
Example
Determine the thickness of the surface, base and subbase layers using the following
design parameters:
Equivalent Single Axle Load (ESAL) = 2 106
Initial Present Serviceability Index, PSIi = 4.5
Terminal Present Serviceability Index, PSIt = 2.5
Resilient modulus of asphalt concrete, MR1 = 450,000 psi
CBR of crushed stone base = 100%
CBR of gravel subbase = 22%
CBR of subgrade = 6%
Exposure to moisture = 30% of the time
Quality of drainage: Surface layer Good
Base layer Fair
Subbase layer Fairly poor
Reliability, R = 99%
Standard deviation, So = 0.35

Solution
(1) Design Serviceability Loss, PSI
PSI = PSIt PSIi = 4.5 2.5 = 2.0
(2) Resilient Modulus
Subgrade :
Subbase :
Base :

MR4 = 6,800 psi (Figure 16-4 Appendix A-4, with CBR = 6%)
MR3 = 13,300 psi (Figure 16-16, Appendix A-10, with CBR = 22%)
MR2 = 30,000 psi (Figure 16-15, Appendix A-9, with CBR = 100%)

(3) Structural Number


(Use nomograph in Figure 16-11, Appendix A-5)
Surface :

SN1 = 2.7

(with R = 99%, S = 0.35, ESAL = 2 106 , and


MR2 = 30 103 )

Base :

SN2 = 3.6

(with R = 99%, S = 0.35, ESAL = 2 106 , and


MR3 = 13 103 )

Subbase :

SN3 = 4.2

(with R = 99%, S = 0.35, ESAL = 2 106 , and


MR4 = 6.8 103 )

(4) Structural Coefficient


Surface :
Base :
Subbase :

a1 = 0.44
a2 = 0.14
a3 = 0.098

(Figure 16-13, Appendix A-7 with MR1 = 450,000 psi)


(Figure 16-15, Appendix A-9, with CBR = 100%)
(Figure 16-16, Appendix A-10, with CBR = 22%)

(5) Drainage Coefficient


(Use Table 16-5, Appendix A-11)
Surface :

m1 = 1.00

(with moisture exposure > 25% and drainage


quality = good)

Base :

m2 = 0.80

(with moisture exposure > 25% and drainage


quality = fair)

Subbase :

m3 = 0.70

(with moisture exposure > 25% and drainage


quality = fairly poor)

(6) SURFACE THICKNESS


D1

SN1
2.7

6.14 in 6.5 in
a 1m1 0.44(1.00)

SN1* = a1 D1 m1 = 0.44 (6.5) (1.00) = 2.86


SN1* SN1

OK!

(7) BASE THICKNESS

D2

SN 2 SN1 * 3.6 2.86

a 2m2
0.14(0.80)

6.61 in 7.0 in

SN2* = a2 D2 m2 = 0.14 (7.0) (0.80) = 0.78


SN1* + SN2* = 2.86 + 0.78 = 3.64
SN1* + SN2* SN2

OK!

(8) SUBBASE THICKNESS

D3

SN 3 SN 2 * SN1 * 4.2 0.78 2.86

a 3m 3
0.098(0.70)

8.16 in 8.5 in

SN3* = a3 D3 m3 = 0.098 (8.5) (0.70) = 0.58


SN1* + SN2* + SN3* = 2.86 + 0.78 + 0.58 = 4.22
SN1* + SN2* + SN3* SN3

OK!

(9) PAVEMENT LAYER PROFILE

Surface

a1 = 0.44 , m1 = 1.00
MR1 = 450,000 psi

6.5 in (165 mm)

Base

a2 = 0.14 , m2 = 0.80
MR2 = 30,000 psi

7.0 in (178 mm)

Subbase

a3 = 0.098 , m3 = 0.70
MR3 = 13,300 psi

8.5 in (216 mm)

Subgrade

MR4 = 6,800 psi

(1 inch = 25.4 mm , 1 psi = 6894.76 Pa)

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