PAVEMENT STRUCTURE AND

DESIGN

Topic: Structural Design of Flexible

Pavements

Course teacher: Engr. FAZLI KARIM (karim.civil@suit.edu.pk)

Access at: portal.suit.edu.pk
Civil Engineering Department, SUIT Peshawar

1
STRUCTURAL DESIGN?
Design Inputs
Serviceability Loss
Structural Coefficient (a)
a= f(E, Material Properties)
 ESAL????
• Design is based on the total number of passes
of the standard axle load (18-kip Equivalent
Single Axle Load – ESAL) during the design
period (performance period)
• Convert all the traffic to the standard axle
load (ESAL)
ESAL means “Equivalent Single Axle Load” which
is 18000 pounds or 18 kips or 80 kilo newton.
Load Equivalency Factor ( LEF) means “ number
of ESALs application contributed by one pass of
an axle load which causes same damage( loss in
serviceability) as by an X kip axle load.
LEF = (Axle load/ Standard axle load)4
180 Kip = 10 (18 Kip) = 10 (ESAL)
 Requirement for ESAL
• Axle load
• Axle configuration
• Number of applications/ passes
• 1 Ton= 2.204 kips
AVERAGE AXLE LOADS IN TONNES
SITUATION IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
Axle load equivaleency factor
EXAMPLE
 Flexible-Pavement Design Equation
The basic equation for flexible-pavement design given in the 1993 AASHTO
design guide permits engineers to determine a structural number necessary to carry a
designated traffic loading. The AASHTO equation is
• LTV= 30,000 ( Front single axle=2000 lb)
(Rear sigle axle = 2000 lb).
Trucks = 1000 ( F.S.A= 8000lb)
( R.S.A= 22000 lb)
Trailers = 350 (F.S.A = 10,000 lb)
(R.Tandem.A= 16000 lb)
(R. Tridem.A= 44,000 lb)