Designing the

Pavement
1. Rigid Pavement
a. Without dowels or tie bars
The critical section is at the edges of a contraction joint, it will crack approximately 45° with
the edges.
M = Wx
6𝑀
f = 𝑏𝑑2
M = Wx
b = 2x
d=t
6𝑊𝑥
f = 2𝑥𝑡 2
𝟑𝑾
t= (thickness of pavement at edge and at center)
𝒇

f = allowable tensile stress of concrete in psi or kg/cm2

W = wheel load in lb or kg
1. Rigid Pavement
b. With dowels or tie bars
Purpose of dowel is to transmit the stresses due to the load from the
adjacent pavement.

At the edge of pavement: At the center of the pavement

𝑀𝑥 𝑊𝑥
M= M=
2 2
𝑤 𝑤𝑥
6( 2 )𝑥 6( )
4
f= f=
2𝑥𝑡1 2 2𝑥𝑡2 2

𝟑𝑾 𝟑𝑾
t1 = t1 =
𝟐𝒇 𝟒𝒇

(thickness at the edge) (thickness at the center)

2. Flexible Pavement

𝑊 1𝑊
A2 = (𝑡 + 𝑟)2 =
𝑓 𝜋 𝑓

A1 = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑊
𝑡 + 𝑟 = 0.564
𝑓
By ratio and proportion:
𝐴1 𝐴2 𝑊
= 𝑡 = 0.564 –r
𝑟2 (𝑡+𝑟)2 𝑓
𝑊
𝜋𝑟 2 𝑓 𝑾
= 𝒕𝟏 = 0.564 –r
𝑟2 (𝑡+𝑟)2 𝒇𝟏
3. Thickness of pavement using
Mcleods Method

𝑷
t=K 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏𝟎
𝑺
P = wheel load
S = subgrade pressure
K = constant value from table
4. Thickness of pavement using
U.S. Corps of Engineers

𝟏ൗ
𝟏.𝟕𝟓 𝟏 𝟐
t= 𝑾 −
𝑪𝑩𝑹 𝒑𝝅
t = thickness of pavement in cm
W = wheel load in kg
CBR = California Bearing Ratio
P = tire pressure in kg/cm2
5. Stress at the corner of a slab
using Goldbecks Formula

𝟑𝑷
S=
𝒉𝟐
S = stress at the corner of a slab in kg/cm2
P = corner load in kg
H = thickness of slab in cm
6. Width of widening of a curve
section of road

𝒏𝑳𝟐 𝑽
ω= +
𝟐𝑹 𝟗.𝟓 𝑹
ω = extra widening required in meters
n = number of lanes
L = length of the longest wheel base of vehicle in
meters
V = velocity of vehicle in kph
7. Thickness of base course
using Tri-axial Test Method
𝟏
𝟑𝑷𝒙𝒚 𝑬𝑺 𝟑
T= − 𝒓𝟐
𝟐𝝅𝑬𝒔 ∆ 𝑬𝑩

T = total thickness of base course

P = wheel load
x = traffic coefficient
y = rain fall coefficient
Δ = design deflection
r = radius of contact area
ES = modulus of elasticity of subgrade soil
EB = modulus of elasticity of base course material
Problem 1

A flexible pavement carries a static wheel load of 53.5 kN.

The circular contact area of the tire is 85806 mm2 and the
transmitted load is distributed across a wide area of the
subgrade at an angle of 45°. The subgrade bearing value is
0.14 MPa, while that of the base is 0.41 MPa. Design the
thickness of pavement and that of the base.
Ans. 39 mm, 145 mm
Problem 2

A rigid pavement is to be used to carry a wheel load of 53.5

kN, design the thickness of the pavement. The allowable
tensile stress of concrete is 1.38 MPa. Sufficient dowels are
used across joints.

Ans. t1 = 241 mm, t = 171 mm

Problem 3

Find the safe static wheel load that a 360 mm thick rigid
pavement could carry without any dowel across the joint if
the allowable tensile stress of concrete rigid pavement is
1.5 MPa.

Ans. W = 64800 N
Problem 4

Design the thickness of a rigid pavement of the proposed

Nagtahan road to carry a wheel load of 60 kN. Allowable
tensile stress of concrete is 0.06 fc’. Neglect the effect of
dowels. fc’= 20MPa.

Ans. W = 387.3 mm
Problem 5

Design the total thickness of a highway pavement using the

plate load test method if the base course has a constant value
of 90. The wheel load is 4100 kg. The total subgrade pressure
for the same contact area, deflection and number of repetitions
of the load is equal to 2100 kg. Provide 5 cm of bituminous
surfacing on the top of the computed thickness. Use McLeods
method.

Ans. t = 31.15 cm
Problem 6

Compute the thickness of a pavement if the CBR value of

subgrade soil is 6%. Wheel load is 4000 kg with tire
pressure of 8 kg/cm2. Use the formula developed by the US
Corps of Engineers.

Ans. t = 31.74cm
Problem 7

A concrete pavement having a thickness of 15 cm carries a

wheel load of 5100 kg. Compute the stress if the load is
acting at the corner of the slab. Use Goldbecks Formula.

Ans. Sc = 68 kg/cm2
 Seatwork

1. A 53.5 kN wheel load has a maximum tire pressure of 0.62 MPa. This
pressure is to be uniformly distributed over the area of the tire contact on
the roadway. Assuming the subgrade pressure is not to exceed 0.14 MPa,
determine the required thickness of flexible pavement structure, according
to the principle of the cone pressure distribution.
2. The thickness of a pavement is 31.74 cm. A wheel load of 4000 kg with a
tire pressure of 8 kg/cm2 is acting on the surface of the pavement. What is
the maximum CBR value of the subgrade soil supporting this load? Use the
formula developed by the US Corps of Engineers.