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 : MR4 = 6,800 psi (Figure 16-4 Appendix A-4, with CBR = 6%)
Subbase : MR3 = 13,300 psi (Figure 16-16, Appendix A-10, with CBR = 22%)
Base : 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 )

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(4) Structural Coefficient

Surface : a1 = 0.44 (Figure 16-13, Appendix A-7 with MR1 = 450,000 psi)
Base : a2 = 0.14 (Figure 16-15, Appendix A-9, with CBR = 100%)
Subbase : a3 = 0.098 (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

SN 1 2.7
D1    6.14 in  6.5 in
a1m1 0.44(1.00)

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

SN1*  SN1  OK!

SN1 = 2.7

(7) Base Thickness

SN 2  SN 1 * 3.6  2.86
D2    6.61 in  7.0 in
a 2 m2 0.14(0.80)

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

SN1* + SN2* = 2.86 + 0.78 = 3.64

SN1* + SN2*  SN2  OK!

SN2 = 3.6

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(8) Subbase Thickness

SN 3  SN 2 * SN 1 * 4.2  0.78  2.86

D3    8.16 in  8.5 in
a 3m 3 0.098(0.70)

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!

SN3 = 4.2

(9) PAVEMENT LAYER PROFILE

Surface a1 = 0.44 , m1 = 1.00 6.5 in (165 mm)

MR1 = 450,000 psi

Base a2 = 0.14 , m2 = 0.80 7.0 in (178 mm)

MR2 = 30,000 psi

Subbase a3 = 0.098 , m3 = 0.70 8.5 in (216 mm)

MR3 = 13,300 psi

Subgrade MR4 = 6,800 psi

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

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