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%
th
e) 87.5 CBR values of subgrade soil from seven samples collected = 5%
f) Elastic modulus of asphalt concrete for surface course, E = 2500 MPa
ac
g) Elastic modulus of emulsified stabilized base, E = 1200 MPa
b
h) Elastic modulus of granular subbase (CBR 30%), E = 150 MPa
sb

Draw the cross-section of final pavement layers considering the thickness of asphalt concrete on
the surface course is not less than 50 mm.
1) Cumulative No. of Standard Axles to be Catered
365 x [(1+r)n 1]
N= xAxD
r

365 x [(1+r)n 1]
or, N= x P(1 + r)y x D
r

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)
365 x [(1+0.08)10 1]
Then, N = x 0.26x103 (1 + 0.08)1.5 x 1
0.08

= 1.54 x 106 EAL

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 106 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
4) Now, Equivalent thickness of emulsified stabilized base course, tb
1 1
Eac 3 2500 3
= ( Eb ) x t ac = (1200) x 200

= 255. 43 mm 255 mm
Use 140 mm thick emulsified stabilized base course
The emulsified stabilized base course equivalent to granular subbase course, tsb
= 255 140 = 115 mm
1
Eb 3
5) Then , Equivalent thickness of granular subbase course, (CBR 30%) = (Esb ) x t sb =
1
1200 3
( 150 ) x 115

= 230 mm
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 the cross-section of final pavement layers with the design output.
Solution
Put the test resilient modulus values in descending order:

Resilient Modulus, MPa Number equal to or greater Percent equal to or greater

than than
1
93.2 1 (8 x 100) = 12.5
2
82.1 2 (8 x 100) = 25.0

3
78.0 3 (8 x 100) = 37.5

4
69.0 4 (8 x 100) = 50.0

5
65.6 5 (8 x 100) = 62.5

6
60.7 6 (8 x 100) = 75.0
7
53.8 7 (8 x 100) = 87.5

8
42.8 8 (8 x 100) = 100.0
2.Cumulative No. of Standard Axles to be Catered
[(1+r)n 1]
N= xAxD
r

[(1+r)n 1]
or, N= x P(1 + r)y x D = ?
r

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)
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.
 1. 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 (both directions) Truck Factor

4000 0.003

2050 0.280

1000 1.060

1100 0.620

1200 1.050

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.
[(1+r)n 1] [(1+0.065)12 1]
1. Growth factor = = = 17.37
r 0.065

2. Calculation of ESAL
 3.

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

. Calculation of 87.5th Percentile Design Subgrade Resilient Modulus, Mr

Put the test resilient modulus values in descending order:
Plot between Percent equal to or greater than vs Mr to get 87.5th Percentile Design
Subgrade Resilient Modulus.

Resilient Modulus, MPa Number equal to or greater than Percent equal to or greater than

1
106.9 1 (7 x 100) = 14.28

2
80.0 2 (7 x 100) = 28.57

3
68.3 3 (7 x 100) = 42.85

4
68.3 4 (7 x 100) = 57.14

67.3 5 5
(7 x 100) = 71.42

6
58.6 6 (7 x 100) = 85.71

7
44.8 7 (7 x 100) = 100