QCS 2014 Section 06: Roadworks Page 45

Part 05: Asphalt Works

Table 1
ESAL and Traffic Designation

Class Designation ESALs Range Applications

Agricultural roads with light traffic , local

VL Very Light Less than 300,000
and city streets without trucks

L Light 300,000 to 3 million Agriculture, Feeder and collector roads

M Medium 3 million to 10 million Main roads and city streets

H Heavy 10 million to 30 million Highways and Expressway

Heavily trafficked highways, industrial

VH Very Heavy More than 30 million
areas ...

1.3.3 Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size (NMAS)

1 Six Nominal Maximum Aggregate Sizes (NMAS) are identified in the Superpave system;
these are 37.5, 25.0, 19.0, 12.5, 9.5 and, 4.75 mm as specified in Table 2.

Table 2
SUAERPAVE Standard NMAS mixtures

Nominal Maximum Size Maximum Size

(NMAS) (MS)

37.5 mm 50.0 mm

25.0 mm 37.5 mm

19.0 mm 25.0 mm

12.5 mm 19.0 mm

9.5 mm 12.5 mm

4.75 mm 9.5 mm
2 The selection of design NMAS for a specific layer is based on the general rule that the
NMAS does not exceed half to one-third (1/2 to 1/3) the layer thickness. If the
contract documents do not specify the NMAS for the project, the Engineer can use the above
criteria and the information provided in Table 3 to select the NMAS of the project.

Table3
Recommended NMAS for Different Layer Types

Layer Recommended NMAS

Sand Mix 4.75 mm

Wearing coarse 9.5 or 12.5 or 19.0 mm

Base coarse 25.0 or 37.5 mm