RUNWAY DESIGN

McLeods Method
Calculation of Base Course Constant
Pressure=Load/Area
By using Chart, for given plate diameter (diameter of contact
area) read the value of base course constant K

Calculation of Sub Grade Support

By using chart for plate dia and deflection (d) read the value
of X
Where X is the ratio of sub grade support @ deflection d for
X = Bearing plate of any dia/unit sub grade support @
0.5 cms deflection for 75cms dia
X & Denominator are unknowns
So unit sub grade support @ deflection D for any dia is
calculated. Then the total support S is obtained by
multiplying unit sub grade support with area of contact

McLeods Method
Calculation of Total Thickness
by using McLeods equation thickness is calculated
T = K log (P/S)

McLeods Method
Problem: Design a runway Pavement section for a
wheel load of 27000 kg with a tyre pressure of 11
kg/sq.cm. For this purpose plate test with 75 cms
dia was carried out on soil sub grade and the
plate yielded at 0.5 cm deflection at pressure of 2
kg/sq.cm

McLeods Method
Step 1:
Area = Load/Pressure
(*d^2)/4 =27000/11 => d = 56cms
From chart for d = 56 cms, K = 138
Step 2
By using chart for 56cms dia plate and 1.25 cm deflection read
value of X
X = 2.15
X = unit sub grade support for Bearing plate of any
dia/unit sub grade support @ 0.5 cms deflection for
75cms dia
2.15 = unit sub grade support for Bearing plate of any dia/2
Unit sub grade support =4.3 Kg/sq.cm
Total Sub grade support (S) = 4.30 *( /4)*56^2 = 10590.93
Kg/sq.cm
Step 3
T = K log (P/S) => T = 56.08 cms

Burmisters Method
= 1.18 Pa/Es * F2 (For Rigid pavement)
= 1.5 Pa/Es * F2 (For Flexible pavement)
where,
Limiting Deflection (cms),
P Surface Pressure (kg/sq.cm),
a Radius of the Plate (cm),
Es Elastic Modulus of Sub grade,
F2 Displacement Factor

Burmisters Method

Problem: Design a pavement by Burmister's approach of two

layered system. Plate bearing test with 75 cm dia plate on soil
sub grade and 15 cm thick base course. The pressures
recorded at 0.5cm deflection for both the layers were
respectively 1.0 and 3.5 kg/sq.cm. It is required to design the
pavement section for 25,000 kg wheel load with tyre pressure
at 10.5 kg/sq.cm.

Calculation of Es
Consider for one layer
= (1.18 Pa/Es) * F2 => Es = 1.18 Pa*F2/ => Es = 1.18*(75/2)*1/0.5 =>
88.5 Kg/sq.cm

Calculation of F2 (Double Layer System)

= (1.18 Pa/Es) * F2 => F2 = Es/1.18 Pa => F2 = 0.5*88.5/1.18*3.5*(75/2)
=> F2 = 0.286

Burmisters Method

Calculation of Ep
For h = 0.4a & F2 = 0.286 from design chart
Es/Ep = 1/750 => Ep = 750 * 88.5 = 66375 kg/sq.cm