AASHTO Flexible Pavement Design

Reference: AASHTO Guide for the Design of Pavement

Structures, 1993

By
Mumtaz A. Usmen, PhD, PE
Professor of Civil Engineering
Wayne State University, USA
MUSMEN@WAYNE.EDU

Huancayo, Peru
 Pavement Performance
• Structural performance: related to the physical
condition of the pavement with respect to the
factors that have negative impact on the capability of
the pavement to carry the traffic load.
– These factors include: cracking, faulting, raveling, and so
forth.
• Functional performance: is an indication of how
effectively the pavement serves the user.
– The main factor considered under functional performance
is riding quality.
 Design Formula and Criteria

– 𝑊18 = predicted number of 80 kN (18,000 lb.) ESALs

– 𝑍𝑅 = standard normal deviate
– 𝑆𝑜 = combined standard error of the traffic prediction and
performance prediction
– SN = Structural Number
SN = 𝑎1 𝐷1 + 𝑎2 𝐷2 𝑚2 +𝑎3 𝐷3 𝑚3 +…
𝑎𝑖 = layer coefficient
𝐷𝑖 = layer thickness (inches)
𝑚𝑖 = layer drainage coefficient
– ΔPSI = difference between the initial design serviceability index,
𝑃𝑜 , and the design terminal serviceability index, 𝑃𝑡
– 𝑀𝑅 = subgrade resilient modulus (in psi)
Design Period and Analysis Period
• Performance or design period
– Initial construction to terminal serviceability
• Analysis period
– Time of design strategy, includes at least one
rehabilitation
– High volume 30 - 40 years
– Low volume 15 - 20 years
 Reliability
• Reliability (R)
– Probability that pavement will perform
satisfactorily over the design period
 Standard Deviation
• Overall standard deviation (𝑆𝑜 )
– standard error of the estimate for traffic and
performance

– Flexible = 0.35 - 0.45

– Rigid = 0.25 - 0.35
 Traffic Loads

•𝑤18 = 18-kips equivalent single axle load (ESAL)

•𝐷𝐷 = directional distribution factor, expressed as a
ratio; accounts for the distribution of loads by
direction (i.e., east-west, north-south).
•𝐷𝐿 = lane distribution factor, expressed as a ratio;
accounts for the distribution of loads when two or
more lanes are available in one direction
• 𝑤ෞ18 = the cumulative two-directional 18-kp ESAL
units predicted for a specific section of highway
during the analysis period.
 Serviceability Concept
• Pavement’s ability to serve the existing traffic using
the highway

Highway Type 𝑃𝑡
Interstate 3.0
Urban 2.5
Rural 2.0
 Environmental Effects on
Serviceability
• Temperature, moisture, roadbed swelling
Subgrade Resilient Modulus
𝑀𝑅 value can be
found from cyclic
triaxial test

𝑀𝑅 value can also

be estimated
from California
Bearing
Ratio CBR value
Subgrade 𝑴𝑹 Seasonal Variation

Freeze
Recovery
Time
Time
 Effective Roadbed Modulus
– Softer subgrade sustains more damage

𝑢𝑓=Cumulative Damage
Effective Resilient Modulus (𝑴𝑹 𝒆𝒇𝒇 )
Flexible Pavement Design Chart
 Once SN value is set, thickness design begins…
SN  a1D1  a2 D2 m2  a3 D3m3
SN1  a1D1
Proceed in SN2  a1D1  a2 D2m2
this direction
SN3  a1D1  a2 D2 m2  a3 D3m3
 Layer Coefficients (𝑎𝑖 )
• Base and subbase
– Correlations from CBR, R (Hveem
Resistance)
– 𝑀𝑅 for Untreated, Cement Treated, and
Asphalt Treated Base Courses
• Asphalt Paving Mixtures
– CBR
– 𝑀𝑅 for Hot Mixed Asphalt (HMA)
HMA Layer Coefficient (𝑎𝟏 )
 Base Layer Coefficient (𝑎𝟐 )
• 𝑎2 = f(Base Type)
• Untreated Base
– (AASHTO Figure 2.6)
• Asphalt Treated Base (ATB)
– (AASHTO Figure 2.9)
• Cement Treated Base (CTB)
– (AASHTO Figure 2.8)
Untreated Layer Coefficient (𝑎𝟐 )
ATB Coefficient (𝑎𝟐 )
CTB Coefficient (𝑎𝟐 )
Subbase Layer Coefficient (𝑎𝟑 )
 Drainage Effects
• Drainage coefficient for base and subbase
– Based on percent of time saturated and drainage
– 0 to 1.4 (poor to excellent)
Drainage Coefficient (𝒎𝒊 )
 Recommended Minumum
Thicknesses of Pavement Layers