Numerical Example - 1

A pavement has to be designed for a certain length of existing single lane carriageway
road from the following considerations:
a) Current traffic of 80 kN equivalent single axle load = 0.26 x 103 EAL/day
b) Design period = 10 years
c) Construction period = 18 months from the last traffic count
d) Traffic growth rate = 8%
e) 87.5th CBR values of subgrade soil from seven samples collected = 5%
f) Elastic modulus of asphalt concrete for surface course, Eac = 2500 MPa
g) Elastic modulus of emulsified stabilized base, Eb = 1200 MPa
h) Elastic modulus of granular subbase (CBR 30%), Esb = 150 MPa
Draw the cross-section of final pavement layers considering the thickness of asphalt
concrete on the surface course is not less than 50 mm.

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Solution:
1) Cumulative No. of Standard Axles to be Catered
365 1+ 1
N= xAxD

+
or, N= x P + xD

Here,
P = 0.26 x 103 EAL/day
r = 8% = 0.08
n = 10 years
y = 18 months = 18/12 = 1.5 years
D = 1 (Since a Single lane carriageway road) (as per IRC: 37 2001)
+. .
Then, N = x 0.26x103 + . x1
.

= 1.54 x EAL

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2) 87.5th CBR values of subgrade soil from seven samples collected = 5%

Therefore, Design Resilient Modulus of Subgrade, Mr = 10.3 x CBR(%)

(in MPa)

= 10.3 x 5 = 51.5 MPa

3) For N = 1.54 x EAL and Mr = 51.5 MPa, from the given design chart,

Full Depth of Asphalt Concrete = 250 mm

Now, adopt
AC Surface Course = 50 mm
AC Base Course = 250 50 = 200 mm
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4) Now, Equivalent thickness of emulsified stabilized base course, tb
1 1
3 2500 3
= x = x 200
1200

= 255. 43 mm

Use 140 mm thick emulsified stabilized base course

The emulsified stabilized base course equivalent to granular subbase course, tsb
= 255 140 = 115 mm

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5) Then , Equivalent thickness of granular subbase course, (CBR 30%)
1 1
3 1200 3
= x = x 115
150

50 mm AC Surface Course, Eac = 2500 MPa

Emulsified Stabilized Base Course,

140 mm Eb = 1200 MPa

260 mm, AC Granular Subbase Course, (CBR 30%),

230 mm
Eac = 2500 MPa Esb = 150 MPa

Subgrade, CBR = 5% Subgrade, CBR = 5%

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9/10/2016 . 6
Numerical Example - 2
The results of eight tests produced the following subgrade resilient modulus values: 42.8,
93.2, 60.7, 82.1, 53.8, 70.0, 65.6 and 69.0 MPa. Design the flexible pavement using Asphalt
Institute Method for a single lane 2-way road to cater the traffic with the following
considerations:
a) Base traffic of 80 kN equivalent single axle load = 8.2 x 104 ESAL/year
b) Design period = 10 years
c) Construction period = 15 months from the last traffic count
d) Traffic growth rate = 7%
e) Minimum depth of asphalt concrete wearing course with the modulus of elasticity of
2500 MPa = 75 mm
f) Emulsified asphalt base course with the modulus of elasticity = 1250 MPa
g) Granular sub-base course with the modulus of elasticity = 150 MPa
h) Use 87.5th percentile resilient modulus value for the design.
i) Draw
9/10/2016
the cross-section of final pavement layers
.
with the design output. 7
Solution Hints:
1. Put the test resilient modulus values in descending order:
Resilient Modulus, Number equal to or Percent equal to or
MPa greater than greater than

93.2 1 1
( x 100) = 12.5
8
82.1 2 2
( x 100) = 25.0
8
78.0 3 3
( x 100) = 37.5
8
69.0 4 4
( x 100) = 50.0
8
65.6 5 5
( x 100) = 62.5
8
60.7 6 6
( x 100) = 75.0
8
53.8 7 7
( x 100) = 87.5
8
42.8 8 8
( x 100) = 100.0
8
From the above table, 87.5th percentile resilient modulus value for the design = 53.8 MPa
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2. Cumulative No. of Standard Axles to be Catered
1+ 1
N= xAxD

+
or, N= x P + xD=?

Here,
P = 8.2 x 104 ESAL/year
r = 7% = 0.07
n = 10 years
y = 15 months = 15/12 = 1.25 years
D = 1 (Since a Single lane carriageway road) (as per IRC: 37 2001)

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3. 87.5th percentile resilient modulus value for the design,
Mr = 53.8 MPa

4) For N = ? and Mr = 51.5 MPa, from the given Design Chart, Obtain Full Depth of Asphalt
Concrete =?
Then, follow the steps as explained in Numerical Example 1.

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Numerical Example - 3
The results of eight tests produced the following subgrade resilient modulus values; 6200, 7800, 8800,
9500, 10000, 11300, 11900, and 13500 psi. Design the flexible pavement using Asphalt Institute Method
for a single lane 2-way road to cater the traffic with the following considerations:
a) Base traffic of 80 kN equivalent single axle load = 0.22 x 103 ESAL/day
b) Design period = 15 years
c) Construction period = 18 months from the last traffic count
d) Traffic growth rate = 7.5%
e) Minimum depth of asphalt concrete wearing course with the modulus of elasticity of 2600 MPa = 75
mm
f) Emulsified asphalt base course with the modulus of elasticity = 1200 Mpa
g) Granular sub-base course with the modulus of elasticity = 150 Mpa
h) Use 90th percentile resilient modulus value for the design.
i) Draw the cross-section of final pavement layers with the design output.

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 2. Graphical determination of design subgrade resilient modulus

90

7480

From the above plot, 90th percentile design subgrade resilient modulus value for the design
= 7480 x 103 psi
Since, 1 psi = 6.9 kPa; So, 7480 x 103psi = 6.9 x 7480 x 103 kPa = 51617 x 103 kPa = 51.617 Mpa
Then follow the steps as explained in previous numerical examples.
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.
Numerical Example - 4
A pavement has to be designed for a specified stretch of existing two lane road from the following
considerations:
a) Current traffic of 80 kN equivalent single axle load = 1.08 x 103 EAL/day
b) Design period = 10 yrs.
c) Construction period = 1 year fro the last traffic count
d) Traffic growth rate = 7%
e) Minimum CBR values in percent observed on six locations for that stretch of the road are: 3.3,
5.0, 6.2, 4.1, 5.4 and 3.0 respectively for subgrade.
f) Design resilient modulus of subgrade in MPa is to be taken as 87.5th percentile value as is
required fro the design. You are required to design the pavement from Asphalt Institute
Method.
Draw the cross-section of final pavement layers considering the thickness of asphalt concrete on
surface course is not less than 50 mm.

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Solution Hints:
1) To determine the Design Subgrade Resilient Modulus, Mr.
For this, tabulate the CBR results, determine the correct value for the traffic percentile and
then convert the Design CBR value to the Design Subgrade Resilient Modulus using the
expression,
Mr = 10.3 x CBR (%) (in MPa)
Put the test CBR values in descending order.
CBR (%) Number equal to or Percent equal to or
greater than greater than

6.2 1 1
( x 100) = 16.7
6
5.4 2 2
( x 100) = 33.3
6
5.0 3 3
( x 100) = 50.0
6
4.1 4 4
( x 100) = 66.7
6
3.3 5 5
( x 100) = 83.3
6
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(6 x 100) = 100 14
 From the interpolation or from the plot between percent equal to or greater than vs CBR (%), the 87.5th
percentile Design Subgrade CBR Value = 3.2%.
Therefore the Design Subgrade Resilient Modulus,
Mr = 10.3 x 3.2 33 Mpa

2) Cumulative No. of Standard Axles to be Catered

1+ 1
N= xAxD

+
or, N= x P + xD=?

Here,
P = 1.08 x 103 EAL/day
r = 7% = 0.07
n = 10 years
y = 1 yr.
D = 0.75 (Since two lane carriageway road) (as per IRC: 37 2001)
3) For N = ? and Mr = 33 MPa, from the given Design Chart, Obtain Full Depth of Asphalt Concrete
=?
Then, follow the steps as explained in Previous Examples.

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Numerical Example - 5
Calculate the accumulated equivalent single axle load for a proposed 2-lane rural highway.
The first year AADT will be 3000, the annual growth rate = 5% and the design period = 20
years. The projected vehicle mix for that highway during the first year of operation is given
in the table below. S.N Vehicle Types Truck % of
Factor, TF Vehicles
1) Single Unit Trucks
a) 2-Axle, 4-Tire 0.02 18
b) 2-Axle, 6-Tire 0.21 8
c) 3-Axle or More 0.73 4
2) Tractor Semitrailers and
Combination
a) 3-Axle 0.47 3
b) 4-Axle 0.83 1
3) Passenger Cars 66

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Solution:
1) Calculation of Growth Factor
+ 1+0.05 20 1
GF = = = 33.06
0.05
S. Vehicle Types No. of Vehicles for 1st Truck GF ESAL
N Year of Operation Factor, TF
(1) (2) (3) (1) X (2) x (3)
1) Single Unit Trucks
a) 2-Axle, 4-Tire 98,550 0.02 33.06 65,161
b) 2-Axle, 6-Tire 43,800 0.21 33.06 3,04,686
c) 3-Axle or More 21,900 0.73 33.06 5,28,530
2) Tractor Semitrailers
and Combination
a) 3-Axle 16,425 0.47 33.06 2,55,215
b) 4-Axle 5,475 0.83 33.06 1,50,233
Total ESAL 13,03,225
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 Sample Calculation: Values Under Column No.1

(obtained from the first year AADT and the design lane factor)
For 2-lane highway, design lane factor, fd = 50% = 0.5

For Example: For 2-Axle, 6-Tire Single Unit Trucks, the No. of Vehicles during first year of
operation (i.e at the end of the construction) = AADT x 365 x % of Vehicles x fd

= 3000 x 365 x 0.08 x 0.5 = 43,800 and so on.

Note: Passenger cars are not considered in the calculations since their contribution to the
ESAL is negligible.

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Numerical Example - 6
Results of seven tests produced the following subgrade resilient modulus test values 44.8,
67.3, 68.3, 58.6, 68.3, 106.9 and 80.0 MPa. The traffic classification at the end of
construction is projected as below:

No. of Vehicles Truck

(both directions) Factor
4000 0.003
2050 0.280
1000 1.060
1100 0.620
1200 1.050

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Design the flexible pavement using Asphalt Institute Method for two lane two way road to
cater the above traffic with the following details:

a) Minimum depth of Asphalt Concrete wearing course with modulus of elasticity 2500
MPa = 50 mm
b) Emulsified asphalt base course with modulus of elasticity = 1250 MPa
c) Granular sub-base course with modulus of elasticity = 150 MPa
d) Annual growth rate of traffic = 6.5%
e) Design period = 12 yrs.
f) Use 87.5th percentile resilient modulus value for the design

Draw the cross-section of the pavement layers with your design output.

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Solution Hints: 1+0.065 12 1
1+ 1
1. Growth factor = = = 17.37
0.065
2. Calculation of ESAL
No. of Vehicles (both Truck Factor Growth ESAL
directions) Factor (1) X (2) x (3)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
4000 0.003 17.37 208.44
2050 0.280 17.37 9970.38

1000 1.060 17.37 18412.2

1100 0.620 17.37 11846.34

1200 1.050 17.37 21886.2

Total (N) 62323.56 = 6.232356 x 104

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.
3. Calculation of 87.5th Percentile Design Subgrade Resilient Modulus, Mr
Put the test resilient modulus values in descending order:
Resilient Modulus, Number equal to or Percent equal to or
MPa greater than greater than

106.9 1 1
( x 100) = 14.28
7
80.0 2 2
( x 100) = 28.57
7
68.3 3 3
( x 100) = 42.85
7
68.3 4 4
( x 100) = 57.14
7
67.3 5 5
( x 100) = 71.42
7
58.6 6 6
( x 100) = 85.71
7
44.8 7 7
( x 100) = 100
7

Plot between Percent equal to or greater than vs Mr to get 87.5th Percentile Design Subgrade Resilient Modulus.
For N and Mr from the given Design Chart, Obtain Full Depth of Asphalt Concrete. Then, follow the steps as explained in Previous Examples.

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Numerical Example - 7
Calculate the accumulated equivalent single axle load for a proposed 8-lane highway.
Traffic volume forecasts indicate that the average annual daily traffic (AADT) in both
directions during the first year of operation will be 12,000 with the following vehicle mix
and axle loads.
Vehicle Types Load Equivalency % of Vehicles
Factors
Passenger Cars (4.45 kN/axle) 0.00002 50

2-Axle Single Unit Trucks (22.25 0.00500 33

kN/axle)
2-Axle Single Unit Trucks (31.15 0.01960 17
kN/axle)
Vehicle mix is expected to remain the same throughout the design life of the pavement. If
the expected annual traffic growth rate = 4% for all the vehicles and the design period = 20
years.

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Solution:
1) Calculation of Growth Factor, GF:
+ 1+0.04 20 1
GF = = = 29.78
0.04
2) Percentage Truck Volume on Design Lane, fd = 45 (Assume) [Range = 25 48 for No. of Lanes
6]; = .
3) No. of Equivalent Accumulated Axle Loads in the Design Lane
= AADT x GF x % of Vehicles x 365 x N x FEx fd
a) Passenger Cars = 12000 x 29.78 x 0.5 x 365 x 2 x 0.00002 x 0.45 = 0.001 x 106
b) 2-Axle Single unit Trucks = 12000 x 29.78 x 0.33 x 365 x 2 x 0.00500 x 0.45 = 0.1937 x 106
c) 3-Axle Single unit Trucks = 12000 x 29.78 x 0.17 x 365 x 3 x 0.01960 x 0.45 = 0.5867 x 106
Total ESAL = 0.781 x 106

Note: It can be seen that the contribution of passenger cars to the ESAL is negligible so, the
passenger cars can be omitted when calculating ESAL values.
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