Traffic and Axle Loads

Typical Axle Combinations

Single Axle Tandem Axle Tridem Axle

Typical Weight Limits
Weigh Stations
 Axle Load Histogram
600

500

400
Frequency

300

200

100

0
3000-6999 7000-7999 8000- 12000- 16000- 18000- 20000- 22000- 24000- 26000-
11999 15999 17999 19999 21999 23999 25999 29999
Single Axle Load (lbs)
 Axle Load Histogram
250

200

150
Frequency

100

50

0
6000- 12000- 18000- 24000- 30000- 32000- 34000- 36000- 38000- 40000-
11999 17999 23999 29999 31999 33999 35999 37999 39999 41999
Tandem Axle Load (lbs)
Standard Axle Load
9 kips

9 kips

Single Axle, Dual Wheels

Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM

GENERIC METHOD
 Mazda Miata

Curb weight = 2300 lb

1
dM   consumption per passage 
NM

Assume NM = 12,000,000
 Ford Excursion

Curb weight = 6300 lb

1
dF   consumption per passage 
NF

Assume NF = 200,000
 “Standard” Vehicle

1
dS   consumption per passage 
NS

Assume NF = 1,000,000
Mazda Equivalency Factor

dM 1 NM NS
FM   
dS 1 NS NM

1,000,000
FM   0.083
12,000,000
Ford Equivalency Factor

dF 1 NF NS
FF   
dS 1 NS N F

1,000,000
FF   5.0
200,000
MECHANISTIC METHOD
Pavement Life (Fatigue)

 a2  a3
N f  a1 E t
Asphalt Asphalt Asphalt
Fatigue Elastic Tensile
Life Modulus Strain
 LEF (Fatigue)

N s a1E   
 a2 s  a3 a3
 
i
LEFi    
t t

N i a1E  a2  t 
i  a3
 
s
t

3 ≤ a3 ≤ 6
Pavement Life (Rutting)

 a5
N f  a4  c
Subgrade Subgrade
Fatigue Compressive
Life Strain
 LEF (Rutting)

N s a4   
s  a5 a5
 
i
LEFi    
c c

N i a4  c 
i  a5
 
s
c

3.5 ≤ a5 ≤ 4.5
 Pavement Life (Rigid)
Concrete
Tensile Strain

4
 t 
N f  225,000  
 MOR 
Concrete
Modulus of
Rupture
 LEF (Rigid)

N s   MOR 
s 4 4
 
i
LEFi    
t t

N i  it MOR  4
 
s
t
 LEF Summary
Measured
Axle Load

4 4 4 4
          Li 
i i i
LEFi            
t t c

          L18 
s s s
t t c

18-kip
Standard
Axle Load
AASHTO METHOD
 Pavement Performance


W
pi p  p i   pi  p f   
 
p

failure
pf

W 
 Pavement Performance

pi

p


failure
pf

W  (failure)
 Pavement Performance
x
W
p  pi   pi  p f   
pi  x 

p 

failure
pf

W  
 Pavement Performance
x
 Wt x 
p t  p i   pi  p f   
pi  x 
x
p
Serviceability Limit
pt
failure
pf

W Wt x
x
Flexible Pavement Performance
x
 Wt x 
p t  4.2   4.2  1.5   
4.2  x 
x
p
Serviceability Limit
pt
failure
1.5

W Wt x
x
Flexible Pavement Performance
x
 Wt x 
p t  4.2   4.2  1.5   
 x 

0.081 Lx  L2 
3.23

 x  0.4 
 SN  1 L23.23
5.19

x 
10  SN  1 L2
5.93 9.36 4.33

 Lx  L2  4.79
Flexible Pavement Performance

x
 Wt x 
p t  4.2   4.2  1.5   
 x 

Wt x  f  p t ,  x , x 
 AASHTO LEF

N s Wt18 f  pt , 18 , 18 

LEF   
N x Wtx f  pt ,  x ,  x 
Flexible Pavement Performance
x
 Wt x 
p t  4.2   4.2  1.5   
 x 
x
4.2  p t  Wt x 

4.2  1.5   x 

 4.2  p t   Wt x 
log10     x log10  
  4.2
  1.5
  x 
Gt
Pavement Performance

 Wt x 
G t   x log10  

 x 

Gt
 log10 Wtx  log10  x
x

Gt
log10 Wt x  log10  x 
x
Pavement Performance

Gt
log10 Wtx  log10  x 
x

Gt
log10 Wt x log10  x 
x
10  10

Gt

Wt x   x10  x
 AASHTO LEF

Gt
18  Gt Gt 
Wt18 1810 18    
LEF     10  18 x 
Wtx Gt
x x
 x10

LEF  ex  EALF
 AASHTO LEF
This is the equation in the textbook

 Wt x  Gt Gt
log    log  x  log 18  
Wt18   x 18

NOTE : this is log 1  e  not e

x
x
Rigid Pavement Performance
x
 Wt x 
p t  4.5   4.5  1.5   
 x 

3.63  Lx  L2 
5.20

 x  1.0 
 D  1 L23.52
8.46

x 
10 5.85
 D  1 7.35
L2 3.28

 Lx  L2  4.62
Rigid Pavement Performance
x
 Wt x 
p t  4.5   4.5  1.5   
 x 
x
4.5  p t  Wt x 

4.5  1.5   x 

 4.5  p t   Wt x 
log10     x log10  
  4.5  1.
 5  x 
Gt
TRUCK LOAD FACTORS
Equivalent Single Axle Loads

12,000 32,000 32,000

ESAL = ??
AASHTO Equivalency Factors
Equivalent Single Axle Loads

0.189 0.857 0.857

ESAL = 1.903
 Axle Load Histogram
600

500

400
Frequency

300

200

100

0
3000-6999 7000-7999 8000- 12000- 16000- 18000- 20000- 22000- 24000- 26000-
11999 15999 17999 19999 21999 23999 25999 29999
Single Axle Load (lbs)
 Axle Load Histogram
250

200

150
Frequency

100

50

0
6000- 12000- 18000- 24000- 30000- 32000- 34000- 36000- 38000- 40000-
11999 17999 23999 29999 31999 33999 35999 37999 39999 41999
Tandem Axle Load (lbs)
 Single Axles
Load Group Axle Count
(lbs) per 1000 trucks LEF ESALs
3000-6999 557 0.005 2.79
7000-7999 140 0.027 3.78
8000-11999 493 0.088 43.38
12000-15999 154 0.360 55.44
16000-17999 75 0.796 59.70
18000-19999 33 1.24 40.9
20000-21999 5 1.83 9.15
22000-23999 2 2.58 5.16
24000-25999 1 3.53 3.53
26000-29999 1 5.39 5.39
TOTAL = 229.2
 Tandem Axles
Load Group Axle Count
(kips) per 1000 trucks LEF ESALs
6000-11999 227 0.010 2.3
12000-17999 162 0.037 6.0
18000-23999 108 0.150 16.2
24000-29999 140 0.429 60.1
30000-31999 58 0.757 43.9
32000-33999 25 0.97 24.3
34000-35999 6 1.23 7.4
36000-37999 3 1.54 4.6
38000-39999 1 1.89 1.9
40000-41999 1 2.29 2.3
TOTAL = 169.0
 Average Truck Load Factor

ESALs 229  169

Tf    0.40
Vehicles 1000
FHWA Truck Classes
FHWA Class 4

Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM

FHWA Class 5

Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM

FHWA Class 6
FHWA Class 7
FHWA Class 8

Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM

FHWA Class 9

Source: images.encarta.msn.com
FHWA Class 10

Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM

 FHWA Truck Classes
Class Type EALF
1 Motorcycles negligible
2 Passenger Cars negligible
3 Other Two-Axle, Four-Tire Single Unit Vehicles negligible
4 Buses 0.57
5 Two-Axle, Six-Tire, Single Unit Trucks 0.26
6 Three-Axle Single Unit Trucks 0.42
7 Four or More Axle Single Unit Trucks 0.42
8 Four or Less Axle Single Trailer Trucks 0.30
9 Five-Axle Single Trailer Trucks 1.20
10 Six or More Axle Single Trailer Trucks 0.93
11 Five or Less Axle Multi-Trailer Trucks 0.82
12 Six-Axle Multi-Trailer Trucks 1.06
13 Seven or More Axle Multi-Trailer Trucks 1.39
Typical Traffic Data

Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM

 WSDOT Simplified System

WSDOT Category FHWA Classes Assumed EALF

Single Units 4, 5, 6, 7 0.40

Double Units 8, 9, 10 1.00

Trains 11, 12, 13 1.75

Daily ESALs = 0.40(single units) + 1.00(double units) + 1.75(trains)

Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM

 TDOT Simplified System
Vehicle FHWA Flexible Rigid
Type Class EALF EALF
Cars & Motorcycles 1, 2 0.001 0.001
Pickups, Panel Vans 3 0.004 0.005
Buses 4 0.300 0.300
2-axle, 6-tire Singles 5 0.170 0.170
3-axle or more Singles 6, 7 0.700 1.000
4-axle Combos 8 0.700 0.780
5-axle or more Combos 9 -11 1.100 1.780
 Design ESALS

Average Lane
Daily Traffic Truck Load Distribution
(two-way) Factor Factor

ESAL  365  ADT   T   Tf  D  L   G

Percent Direction Growth

Trucks Distribution Factor
Factor
 Design ESALS

Lane
Truck Load Distribution
Factor Factor

ESAL  365  ADT   T   Tf  D  L   G

Average Direction Growth

Daily Truck Distribution Factor
Traffic Factor
 Design ESALS

Direction Truck
Distribution Load
Factor Factor

m
ESAL  365 L  D   Nm   Tm   Gm 
i1

Lane Daily Growth

Distribution Truck Count Factor
Factor (two-way)
 Traffic Growth
COMPARISON OF GROWTH IN VOLUME AND
LOADINGS ON THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM
700
PERCENT GROWTH (3-YEAR MOVING AVERAGE)

600
RURAL
AVERAGE DAILY
LOAD
500

400

300
RURAL
AVERAGE DAILY
TRAFFIC
200

100

0
70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02
Source: Truck Weight Study and HPMS YEAR
 Growth Factor

1  g   1
n

G for g  0
g
 Lane Distribution Factors
Number of Lanes Percent of Loads
in Each Direction in Design Lane

1 100

2 80-100

3 60-80

4 50-75