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 = PSIi PSIt = 4.5 2.5 = 2.0 (2) Resilient Modulus Subgrade : Subbase : Base : MR4 = 6,800 psi (Figure 16-4 Appendix A-4, with CBR = 6%) MR3 = 13,300 psi (Figure 16-16, Appendix A-10, with CBR = 22%) 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 ) (with R = 99%, S = 0.35, ESAL = 2 106 , and MR3 = 13 103 ) (with R = 99%, S = 0.35, ESAL = 2 106 , and MR4 = 6.8 103 )

Base :

SN2 = 3.6

Subbase :

SN3 = 4.2

(4) Structural Coefficient Surface : Base : Subbase : a1 = 0.44 a2 = 0.14 a3 = 0.098 (Figure 16-13, Appendix A-7 with MR1 = 450,000 psi) (Figure 16-15, Appendix A-9, with CBR = 100%) (Figure 16-16, Appendix A-10, with CBR = 22%)

(5) Drainage Coefficient (Use Table 16-5, Appendix A-11) Surface : m1 = 1.00 m2 = 0.80 m3 = 0.70 (with moisture exposure > 25% and drainage quality = good) (with moisture exposure > 25% and drainage quality = fair) (with moisture exposure > 25% and drainage quality = fairly poor)

Base :

Subbase :

(6) SURFACE THICKNESS

D1 SN 1 2.7 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!

(7) BASE THICKNESS

D2 SN 2 SN 1 * 3.6 2.86 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!

(8) SUBBASE THICKNESS

D3 SN 3 SN 2 * SN 1 * 4.2 0.78 2.86 8.16 in 8.5 in a 3m3 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!

(9) PAVEMENT LAYER PROFILE

Surface

a1 = 0.44 , m1 = 1.00 MR1 = 450,000 psi a2 = 0.14 , m2 = 0.80 MR2 = 30,000 psi

6.5 in (165 mm)

Base

7.0 in (178 mm)

Subbase

a3 = 0.098 , m3 = 0.70 MR3 = 13,300 psi

8.5 in (216 mm)

Subgrade

MR4 = 6,800 psi

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

Fairly Poor