Maccaferri Inc.

10303 Governor Lane Boulevard

Williamsport, MD 21795-3116
Tel: 301-223-6910
fax: 301-223-6134
www.maccaferri-usa.com

Design of Flexible Pavements with Maccaferri Geogrids

Welcome to Maccaferri FlexPave, a simplified Excel worksheet for the design of flexible pavements with and wi
Maccaferri Geogrids, utilizing the AASHTO 93 design guidelines.
For additional information, please refer to Maccaferri technical note on Design of Flexible Pavements.

BEGIN DESIGN

Prepared by Maccaferri Inc.

READ DISCLAIMER

DISCLAIMER
All information contained herein has been prepared for the benefit of customers
interested in Maccaferri Engineered products and is provided as a service to the
user. All information and recommendations were carefully compiled and
reviewed prior to publication to the best of Maccaferris knowledge. Final
determination of the suitability of any information, material and
recommendations for applications contemplated is the sole responsibility of the
user.

BEGIN DESIGN

BACK TO
MAIN SCREEN

Calculation of Required Thickness

D1

Asphalt

D2

Base
Maccaferri Geosynthetic

D3

Sub-Base

Subgrade

Pavement Cross-Section
BACK TO
MAIN SCREEN

Prepared by Maccaferri Inc.

THICKNESS OF
BASE

THICKNESS OF BASE COURSE

Input Data
Project Title:
Subgrade:

CBR

Reliability:
Standard Deviation:
Design Traffic Load:

MR (psi)
R (%)
So
w18 (ESAL)

life cycle benefit analysis

=
15.00
Reset
*

=
=
=

W18=w18*FR (ESAL)
Serviceability Loss:
Maccaferri Geogrid:
Asphalt Layer:
Base Layer:

Sub-Base Layer:

Output Data

PSI
LCR
Price ($/yd2)
D1 (inch)

m
Price ($/yd3)
D3 (inch)

Reset
=

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

22500.0
90
0.45
11,500,000
43,390,639
1.7
1.2
$2.30
6.70
0.38
0.13
1.00
$10.00
5.91
0.12
1.00

Structural Number:

SN

Thick. w/o Geosynthetics:

Thick. with Maccaferri Geogrids:

Reduction in Thickness:
Cost Savings:

D2
D2*

=
=

D2-D2* =
$/yd2 =
$/m2 =

4.22
inch
7.78
6.48

cm
19.7
16.5

1.30
-$1.94
-

3.3
-$2.32
###

Notes:

1) Please note that the two Reset buttons allow for the calculation of the subgrade MR and the traffic W18 from CBR and w18
respectively. The user, however, has the option to insert these values directly into the assigned cells if they were known.
2) Click on "Calculate Time to Drain" button to calculate the time to drain for the designed pavement cross section. Based on the time to drain, you can
select a corresponding drainage coefficient from the attached table (as a comment for the cell).
GO TO
PREVIOUS SCREEN

Prepared by Maccaferri Inc.

CALCULATE TIME TO DRAIN

CALCULATE BASE
THICKNESS

VIEW MACCAFERRI
GEOGRIDS SPECIFICATIONS

D6:

Subgrade Resilient Modulus,

use the CBR x 1500 as a default value

D7:

Suggested Reliability Values

Interstate and other freeways
Principal Arterials
Collectors
Local

D11:

D17:

Urban
85-99.9
80-99
80-95
50-80

Rural
80-99.9
75-95
75-95
50-80

PSI = Po-Pt
Po: Initial serviceability index = approx. 4.2
Pt: Terminal serviceability index
Recommended "m" Values
_________________________________________________________________________________
Quality of Drainage
Percent of Time Pavement Structure is Exposed to Moisture Levels
(water removed within)
Approaching Saturation
_________________________________________________________________________________
Less than 1%
1-5%
5-25%
Greater than 25%
_________________________________________________________________________________
Excellent (2 hours)
1.40-1.35
1.35-1.30
1.30-1.20
1.20
Good (1 day)

1.35-1.25

1.25-1.15

1.15-1.00

1.00

Fair (1 week)

1.25-1.15

1.15-1.05

1.00-0.80

0.80

Poor (1 month)

1.15-1.05

1.05-0.80

0.80-0.60

0.60

Very poor
1.05-0.95
0.95-0.75
0.75-0.40
(will not drain)
_________________________________________________________________________________
*Please refere to Tenax's GRID-DE 2 Technical Note for further details

Prepared by Maccaferri Inc.

0.40

Time To Drain Calculations

Input Data

Output

Roadway Geometry
Width of permeable base

W (ft)

10.00

Resultant slope

Longitudinal slope
Cross slope

S (ft/ft)

0.005

Resultant length

Sx (ft)

0.020

H (ft)
No

0.49

0.10

Slope Factor
Time Factor
"m" Factor
Time to Drain

k (ft/day)

1.00

Base Course Material

Thickness
Effective Porosity
Coefficient of Permeability

LR
W

SR

Sx
S

For more details refer to Maccaferri Inc., 2001, "Design Manual For Roadway Geocomposite Underdrain Systems"
CONTINUE TO THICKNESS
CALCULATIONS

SR= (S2+Sx2)1/2

0.021

LR= W*[1+(S/Sx)2]1/2

10.31

Sl= LR*SR/H

0.43

T50

0.44

m (days)=No*LR2/k*H

21.59

t (hours)=T50*m*24

226.82

ite Underdrain Systems"

Maccaferri Geogrids Series

Maccaferri Geogrids series is a multilayer Geogrid consisting of high strength extruded biaxially oriented polypropylene
geogrids. The layers are rolled and stitched together without superimposing the meshes creating a Geogrid with random
sized apertures designed to accommodate a variety of fill materials. The random aperture geometry, many tensile elements
and multiple layers of the Geogrid enhance soil/Geogrid interaction.
Maccaferri Geogrids greatly improve the geogrid interlocking capacity, distribute applied loads, and prevent localized
shear failure.
Typical applications:
- Soft soil stabilization
- Base reinforcement
- Embankments over weak soils
- Working platforms
- Haul roads

Go To EB2 Geogrid
Specifications
GO TO
PREVIOUS SCREEN

Prepared by Maccaferri Inc.

Go To EB3 Geogrid
Specifications

Maccaferri EB2
MULTILAYER BI-ORIENTED GEOGRIDS
Maccaferri EB2 geogrid is composed of two layers of high strength extruded biaxially oriented polypropylene
geogrids. The layers are rolled and stitched together without superimposing the meshes creating a geogrid with
random sized apertures designed to accommodate a variety of fill materials. The random aperture geometry,
many tensile elements and multiple layers of the geogrid enhance soil/geogrid interaction.
Maccaferri EB2 geogrid greatly improves the geogrid interlocking capacity, distributes applied loads, and prevents
localized shear failure.
Typical applications:
- soft soil stabilization - base reinforcement - embankments over weak soils - working platforms - haul roads

MATERIAL
CHARACTERISTICS
STRUCTURE
POLYMER TYPE
CARBON BLACK CONTENT
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

TEST DIRECTION
PEAK TENSILE STRENGTH
TTURE INITIAL MODULUS IN USE
TRUE TENSILE STRENGTH at 2% STRAIN
TRUE TENSILE MODULUS at 2% STRAIN
TRUE TENSILE STRENGTH at 5% STRAIN
TENSILE MODULUS at 5% STRAIN
YIELD POINT ELONGATION
JUNCTION STRENGTH
DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

NUMBER OF LAYERS
APERTURE SIZE - MD, TD
OPEN AREA
UNIT WEIGHT
ROLL DIMENSIONS (WIDTH x LENGTH)
ROLL AREA
GROSS ROLL WEIGHT
NOTES:
a) 95% lower confidence limit values, ISO 2602
b) Typical value
c) Tests performed using extensometers

Maccaferri Inc.
10303 Governor Lane Boulevard
Williamsport, MD 21795-3116
tel (301) 223-6910
fax (301) 223-6134

Prepared by Maccaferri Inc.

TEST METHOD

DATA

ASTM D4218

LAYERS OF BI-ORIENTED GEOGRIDS

SEWN TOGETHER
POLYPROPYLENE
0.50%

TEST METHOD

UNIT

EB2

Notes

GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG2

lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
%
lb/ft (kN/m)

MD
TD
925 (13.5)
1400 (20.5)
15,508 (226.4) 24,667 (360.1)
301 (4.4)
450 (6.57)
15,050 (220) 22,500 (328)
616 (9.0)
920 (13.42)
12,320 (180) 18,400 (269)
12.0
11.0
835 (12.2)
1315 (19.2)

a,c,e
a,c,e
a,c,e
a,c,e
a,c,e
a,c,e
b,c,e
a,e

TEST METHOD

UNIT

EB2

Notes

ASTM D 5261

in. (mm), in. (mm)

%
oz/yd2 (g/m2)
ftxft (mxm)
yd2 (m2)
lb (kg)

2
1.65 (42), 1.96 (50)
75
6.4 (220)
12.5x328 (3.8x100)
455 (380)
217 (98.5)

b,d,e
a
b
b
b
b

d) Single layer dimension

e) MD : machine direction (longitudinal to the roll)
TD : transversal direction (across roll width)

Maccaferri EB3
MULTILAYER BI-ORIENTED GEOGRIDS
Maccaferri EB3 geogrid is composed of three layers of high strength extruded biaxially oriented polypropylene
mesh. The layers are rolled and stitched together without superimposing the meshes creating a geogrid with
random sized apertures designed to accommodate a variety of fill materials. The random aperture geometry,
many tensile elements and multiple layers of the geogrid enhance soil/geogrid interaction.
Maccaferri EB3 geogrid greatly improves geogrid interlocking capacity, distributes applied loads, and prevents
localized shear failure.
Typical applications:
- soft soil stabilization - base reinforcement - embankments over weak soils - working platforms - haul roads

MATERIAL
CHARACTERISTICS
STRUCTURE
POLYMER TYPE
CARBON BLACK CONTENT
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
TEST DIRECTION
PEAK TENSILE STRENGTH
TTURE INITIAL MODULUS IN USE
TENSILE STRENGTH at 2% STRAIN
TENSILE MODULUS at 2% STRAIN
TENSILE STRENGTH at 5% STRAIN
TENSILE MODULUS at 5% STRAIN
YIELD POINT ELONGATION
JUNCTION STRENGTH

TEST METHOD

DATA

ASTM D4218

LAYERS OF BI-ORIENTED GEOGRIDS

SEWN TOGETHER
POLYPROPYLENE
0.50%

TEST METHOD

UNIT

GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG1
GRI-GG2

DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
TEST METHOD
NUMBER OF LAYERS
APERTURE SIZE - MD, TD
OPEN AREA
UNIT WEIGHT
ASTM D 5261
ROLL DIMENSIONS (WIDTH x LENGTH)
ROLL AREA
GROSS ROLL WEIGHT
NOTES:
a) 95% lower confidence limit values, ISO 2602
b) Typical value
c) Tests performed using extensometers

Maccaferri Inc.
10303 Governor Lane Boulevard
Williamsport, MD 21795-3116
tel (301) 223-6910
fax (301) 223-6134

Prepared by Maccaferri Inc.

Notes

lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
lb/ft (kN/m)
%
lb/ft (kN/m)

EB3
MD
TD
1370 (20.0)
2100 (30.7)
32,962 (481.2)
44,700 (652.5)
418 (6.1)
616 (9.0)
20,900 (305)
30,800 (450)
925 (13.5)
1340 (19.6)
18,500 (270)
26,850 (392)
12.0
11.0
1230 (18)
1970 (28.8)

UNIT
in. (mm), in. (mm)
%
oz/yd2 (g/m2)
ftxft (mxm)
yd2 (m2)
lb (kg)

EB3
3
1.65 (42), 1.96 (50)
70
9.6 (330)
12.5x164 (3.8x50)
227 (190)
165.0 (75.0)

Notes

d) Single layer dimension

e) MD : machine direction (longitudinal to the roll)
TD : transversal direction (across roll width)

a,c,e
a,c,e
a,c,e
a,c,e
a,c,e
a,c,e
b,c,e
a,e

b,d,e
a
b
b
b
b