CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY OF

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Design of Overlay
Thickness

Department
of Civil Engineering
 Evaluation for overlay design of pavement structure:
In many cases evaluation for overlay design of pavement structure will
be undertaken because of:

 Pavement is rough or is exhibiting surface distress.

 Increased traffic volume or changes in axle loading may be
anticipated.

The General procedure for using pavement deflection for

structural evaluation is as follows:
Establish the length of pavement to be included in the structural
evaluation.
Perform a deflection survey.
Calculate the representative rebound deflection(RRD)
Estimate the design EAL (EALd).
Determine the overlay thickness.
(1) Length of pavement to be included in the structural
evaluation:
Pavement condition, Sub grade strength & drainage condition will
vary over the length of pavement being considered for overlay. Where
visual inspection or test data clearly indicate into separate sections &
overlay thickness for each design section determined separately.
(2) Deflection survey:
The magnitude of pavement deflection is an indicator of the ability
of the pavement to withstand traffic loading. For measuring
pavement deflection there are available a number of nondestructive
devices which attempt to simulate the loading response from a
moving wheel load. Benkelman-Beam is one of the devices which is
most commonly used .
Figure: Benkelman Beam
Minimum of 12 pavement deflections per kilometer are taken
for the project area on the basis of random sampling
technique.
The beam has a narrow 3.66m beam that is place between
the dual tires of a rear wheel of a loaded truck. The foot or
probe, located at the end of the beam, rests on the pavement
under the rear axle and between the tires. The beam is
pivoted at a point 2.44m from the probe end. The truck
moves ahead at creep speed and the total pavement rebound
deflection is read on a dial gauge.

Rebound deflection is the amount of vertical rebound of a

surface that occurs when a load is removed from the surface.
(3) Calculation of representative rebound deflection(RRD):
The recorded rebound deflections are used to determine RRD for the
design section. This value is the mean of the rebound deflections which
have been multiplied by a temperature adjustment factor for reference to
210C (700F) and, if necessary, a critical adjustment factor, plus two
standard deviations.
Then, RRD = (X+ 2s)f c
Where: X = the arithmetic mean of the individual values that have been
adjusted for temperature
s = standard deviation
f = temperature adjustment factor
c = critical period adjustment factor
Where,
x= individual test value, corrected
for temperature
x= average test value = ∑X/n
n= number of individual test values
Thickness of untreated aggregate base

Figure3: Temperature adjustment Factor

# Example (01)
Calculated the Representative Rebound Deflection for a a section of
asphalt pavement. Benkelman Beam deflections were obtained under
uniform temperature conditions. The following individual test values
were obtained-
Solution:

Step 01: The sample mean value can be computed by

X = ∑X/n = 0.8128 mm (0.0320 in)

Step 02: The standard deviation, s, is computed from

Standard Deviation: = 0.112 mm

Step 03:
Adjust for temperature and seasonal effects. The test was
conducted during the most critical time of the year. The pavement
considered of a 75 mm asphalt surface and a 365 mm aggregate
base course. The pavement temperature was estimated to be
17°C. From figure IV-2 , the temperature adjustment factor, f=
1.04. The seasonal adjustment factor, c= 1.0.
Step 04:
RRD = (X+ 2s) f c = 1.08 mm.
(4) Estimate the Design EAL:

The following steps outline the procedure for determining design

EAL.

a. Determine the average number of each type of vehicle expected

on the design during the 1st year of traffic.
b. Select truck for each type of vehicle from TABLE III-4
c. Select, from TABLE III-3, a single Growth factor for all vehicles or
separate Factors for each vehicles type, as appropriate.
d. Multiply the number of vehicles of each type times the truck
Factor
and the Growth Factor determined in steps (b) and (c). Sum the
values determined to obtain Design EAL.
(5) Determination of Overlay thickness:
A. Structural adequacy evaluation
Using EDLd & RRD the thickness of overlay needed to strengthen an
inadequate pavement may be determined or the time before an overlay is
needed may be estimated.
The procedure to determine the length of time before an overlay is needed:
a) Determine the RRD.
b) Using the Design Rebound Deflection Chart, Figure.IV-5, and letting the
RRD equql the Design Rebound Deflection, obtain the remaining EAL, EALr.
c) Determine the average number of each type of vehicle on the design
section for the current year.
d) Multiply the number of vehicles of each type by the appropriate Truck
Factor selected from Table III-4.
e) Sum the values and divide this number into the EALr to determine a
Growth factor.
f) Estimate the traffic growth rate in present.
g) With the Growth Factor TableIII-3 in the column representing the growth
rate and the design Period for that factor. The Design Period is the
estimated number of years before an overlay is needed.
B. Overlay Design by Deflection Analysis

To find the thickness of overlay needed:

a) Determine the RRD.

b) Estimate the EALd .
c) Enter the overlay thickness chart, Figure.IV-6 ,at the RRD
determined in step (a) and move up vertically to the curve
representing the Design EAL, (EALd) determined in step (b). Move
horizontally to the Overlay Thickness scale and read the thickness
of overlay required
#Example (02)
Two –lane rural highway carrying an avg. of 5000vehiclespr day,
10percent of them being heavy trucks(2-axle,6-tire, and larger) and
14 percent of them being panel and pick- up trucks (2-axle,a-
tire).Fifty percent of the trucks are in the design lane. Given, RRD =
1.08 mm.
Solution:
Step 01:
RRD = 1.08 mm

Step 02:
Remaining EAL, EALr = 500,000 (from Fig. IV-5)
Step 03:
Traffic Analysis

Step 04:
Total trucks, per year, design lane = 219,000 * EDLd = 68,200
Step 05:
Growth Factor = EALr /EALd = 500,000/68,200 = 7.33
Step 06:
Traffic Growth Rate = 4 percent
Step 07: Estimated years before overlay = 6.50 (from Table II-3)
#Example (03)
Design an overlay for a four- lane Interstate rural highway with an
average of 16000Vehicles per day.
Given, RRD=1.11, EALd=10200000.

Solution:

The thickness of overlay required is found in Figure IV-6 to be 125

mm.
 Quiz-01
a) Why is highway need an overlay? 2

b) What are the general procedures for overlay thickness design by

deflection method? 4

c) What is meant by remaining life of a pavement? 2

d) Explain how this can be found out by deflection procedure? 4