 Thickness of Pavement Using Mcleods Method

P
t  K log
S

Where: P = wheel load

S = subgrade pressure
K = constant value from table

Example Problem:

Design the total thickness of a highway pavement using the

plate load test method if the base course has a constant value
of 90. The wheel load is 4100 kg. The total subgrade pressure
for the same contact area, deflection and number of repetitions
of the load is equal to 2100 kg. Provide 5 cm of bituminous
surfacing on the top of the computed thickness. Use Mcleods
Method.

 Thickness of Pavement Using U.S. Corps of Engineers

1/ 2
 1.75 1 
t W  
 CBR p 

Where: t = thickness of pavement in cm.

W = wheel load in kg
CBR = California Bearing Ratio in %
p = tire pressure in kg/cm2
Example Problem:

The thickness of the pavement is 31.74 cm. A wheel load of

4000 kg with a tire pressure of 8 kg/cm2 is acting on the surface
of the pavement. What is the maximum CBR value of subgrade
soil supporting this load? Use the formula developed by U.S.
Corps of Engineers.

 Thickness of Pavement Using Tri-axial Test Method

1/ 3
3Pxy E 
t  r 2  s 
2Es   EB 

Where: t = total thickness of base course

P = wheel load
x = traffic coefficient
y = rainfall coefficient
Δ = design deflection
r = radius of contact area
Es = modulus of elasticity of subgrade soil
EB = modulus of elasticity of base course material
  Thickness of Pavement Using California Resistance Value
Method

K T .I .90  R 
t
C1 / 5

Where: t = thickness of the pavement

K = numerical index
T.I. = traffic index
C = cohesiometer value
R = stabilometer resistance value

 Thickness by Expansion Pressure Method

expansion pressure
t
average pavement density

Example Problem:

Compute the pavement thickness by expansion pressure

method if the expansion pressure is 0.15 kg/cm2 and the
average pavement density is 0.0025 kg/cm3.

 Traffic Index

T .I .  1.35EWL 
0.11

Where: EWL = equivalent wheel load

Example Problem:

Compute the traffic index if the annual value of the equivalent

wheel load (EWL) is 32,600,000.

 Stiffness Factor of Pavement

1/ 3
E 
S .F .   S 
 EP 

Where: ES = modulus of elasticity of the subgrade

EP = modulus of elasticity of the pavement
S.F. = stiffness factor

Example Problem:

Compute the modulus of elasticity of the subgrade if the

modulus of elasticity of the pavement is 120 MPa with a
stiffness factor of 0.50.

 Modulus of Subgrade Reaction

F
k
0.125

Where: F = P/A
P = load causing a settlement of 0.125 cm in kg
A = area of standard plate (75 cm diameter)
k = modulus of subgrade reaction in kg/cm3
Example Problem:

Upon completion of grading operations a subgrade test for

bearing capacity by loading large bearing plates was conducted.
It was found that a load of 5,000 pounds produces a deflection
of 0.10 inch under a plate of 18 inches in diameter. Based on
this load, what is the modulus of subgrade reaction according
to Westergaard?

 Factor of Safety

Residual Strength
Factor of Safety 
Edge Load Stress

Where: Residual Strength = Allowable Flexural Strength –

Warping Stress

 Stress at the Corner of a Slab Using Goldbecks Formula

3P
S
h2

Where: S = stress at the corner of a slab in kg/cm2

P = corner load in kg
h = thickness of slab in cm
Example Problem:

Compute the edge load stress for a concrete pavement having a

residual strength of 20.56 kg/cm2 and a factor of safety of 1.07.

 Radius of Resisting Section

b  1.6a 2  h 2  0.675h

Where: b = radius of resisting section in cm

a = radius of loaded area in cm
h = slab thickness in cm
When a > 1.724h; use b = a

 California Bearing Ratio

Unit Load at 0.10 inch penetration

CBR  x100
1000 psi

Unit Load at 0.20 inch penetration

CBR  x100
1500 psi

Example Problem:

Compute the CBR of a soil sample, if the sample is subjected to

a load on a piston plunger 2 inches in diameter and produces a
penetration of 0.10 inch. The CBR value of a standard crushed
rock for a 0.10 inch penetration is 1000 psi and for the 0.20 inch
penetration is 1500 psi. The load applied is 1600 lbs.
  Shrinkage Factor

e e 
S   1 2 100
 1  e1 

S = shrinkage factor
e1 = in situ void ratio
e2 = void ratio after compacting

 Width of Widening of a Curve Section of Road

nL2 V
W 
2 R 9.5 R

Where: W = extra widening required in meters

n = number of lanes
L = length of the longest wheel base of vehicle in
meters
R = radius of curvature of the curve in meters
V = velocity of vehicle in kph