Pavement Design

I. Pavement Design
A. Overview
Degree of curvature

Principal cause of pavement failure shown abovenot the blacktop

I. Pavement Design
B. California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
How to build a road!

I. Pavement Design
B. California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
1. The California bearing ratio (CBR) is a
penetration test for evaluation of the mechanical
strength of road subgrades and basecourses. It
was developed by the California Department of
Transportation.

I. Pavement Design
B. California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
1. The California bearing ratio (CBR) is a penetration test
for evaluation of the mechanical strength of road
subgrades and basecourses. It was developed by the
California Department of Transportation.

2. The test is performed by measuring the pressure

required to penetrate a soil sample with a
plunger of standard area. The measured
pressure is then divided by the pressure
required to achieve an equal penetration on a
standard crushed rock material.

I. Pavement Design
B. California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

3. The Test
Take load readings at penetrations of:
the result
0.025 70 psi
0.05...115 psi
0.1.220 psi
0.2.300 psi
0.4.320 psi
6 mold

Penetrations of 0.05 per minute

Achieve OM &MD

4. Plot the Data

5. Determine the percent of compacted crushed stone values for the 0.1 and 0.2
penetration.

The Gold Standard for CBR

for 0.1 of penetration, 1000 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 1500 psi
The standard material for this test is
crushed California limestone

Example above:
for 0.1 of penetration, 220 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 300 psi

5. Determine the percent of compacted crushed stone values for the 0.1 and 0.2
penetration.

Example psi = CBR

Standard psi
220 psi = .22, or 22%
1000 psi
300 psi = .20, or 20%
1500 psi
CBR of material = 22%
The Gold Standard for CBR
for 0.1 of penetration, 1000 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 1500 psi

Example above:
for 0.1 of penetration, 220 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 300 psi

5. Determine the percent of compacted crushed stone values for the 0.1 and 0.2
penetration.

Example psi = CBR

Standard psi
220 psi = .22, or 22%
1000 psi
300 psi = .20, or 20%
1500 psi
CBR of material = 22%
The Gold Standard for CBR
for 0.1 of penetration, 1000 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 1500 psi

Example above:
for 0.1 of penetration, 220 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 300 psi

Use 0.1 of penetration, unless 0.2 is the greater value.

If so, then rerun the test, taking the higher of the two values from this second trial

5. Determine the percent of compacted crushed stone values for the 0.1 and 0.2
penetration.

Example psi = CBR

Standard psi
220 psi = .22, or 22%
1000 psi
300 psi = .20, or 20%
1500 psi

In General:
The harder the surface, the higher the CBR rating.
A CBR of 3 equates to tilled farmland,
A CBR of 4.75 equates to turf or moist clay,
Moist sand may have a CBR of 10.
High quality crushed rock has a CBR over 80.
The standard material for this test is crushed California
limestone which has a value of 100.

CBR of material = 22%,

or 22
The Gold Standard for CBR
for 0.1 of penetration, 1000 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 1500 psi

Example above:
for 0.1 of penetration, 220 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 300 psi

Potential Corrections to the

Stress-Penetration Curves

I. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design

I. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
1. Determine

The CBR values of the subgrade

The type of use expected (runways vs.
taxiways)

I. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
1. Determine

The CBR values of the subgrade

The type of use expected (runways vs.
taxiways)
The expected wheel load during service
Types of CBR materials available for the
construction

I. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
2. Primary Goals

Total strength of each layer only as good as what is

beneath it

Therefore, must meet minimum thickness requirements

Dont break the bank

Use less inexpensive CBR materials when allowed while

not shortchanging the projects integrity

I. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the
minimum pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway
pavement designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000
wheel load)?

 a point on the curve for a

given CBR material represents
the minimum thickness of
pavement courses that will
reside above it, in order to
maintain stability

CBR subbase of 8,
Taxiway, and wheel load
of 40,000 lb
23 inches
23 inches of
total earth material
and pavement

I. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the
minimum pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway
pavement designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000
wheel load) 23 inches
What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)?
What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches?

I. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the
minimum pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway
pavement designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000
wheel load)
What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)?
What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches?
Wheel Pound Loads
15,000 or less
15k-40k
40k-70k
70k-150k

CBR Value
50
65
80
80+

Wearing Surface
0-15k.....2
>15k-40k..3
>40k-55k..4
>55k-70k..5
>70k..6

I. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the
minimum pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway
pavement designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000
inches
wheel 23
load)
3 inches
What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)?
6 inches of CBR 65/80

What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches?

Wheel Pound Loads
15,000 or less
>15k-40k
>40k-70k
>70k-150k

CBR Value
50
65
80
80+

Wearing Surface
0-15k.....2
>15k-40k..3
>40k-55k..4
>55k-70k..5
>70k..6

V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example

CBR = 80

A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the

minimum pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway
pavement designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000
inches
wheel 23
load)
3 inches
What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)?
6 inches of CBR 65/80

What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches?

Wheel Pound Loads
15,000 or less
>15k-40k
>40k-70k
>70k-150k

CBR Value
50
65
80
80+

Wearing Surface
0-15k.....2
>15k-40k..3
>40k-55k..4
>55k-70k..5
>70k..6

V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example

CBR = 80

A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the minimum

pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway pavement
designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000 wheel load)
23 inches

What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)? 3 inches

What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches? 6 inches of CBR 65/80
What can we use for the remainder of thickness?
Wheel Pound Loads
15,000 or less
>15k-40k
>40k-70k
>70k-150k

CBR Value
50
65
80
80+

Wearing Surface
0-15k.....2
>15k-40k..3
>40k-55k..4
>55k-70k..5
>70k..6

Need = 9 minimum
thickness

CBR = 27 for
remainder of base
(14)

Given: Same CBR subgrade as

before
Materials available of:
CBR=30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs

Given: Same CBR subgrade as

before
Materials available of:
CBR=30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
CBR of 30 needs minimum of 9
of pavement courses above it.

Given: Same CBR subgrade as

before
Materials available of:
CBR=30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
CBR of 30 needs minimum of 9
of pavement courses above it.
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6

Given: Same CBR subgrade as

before
Materials available of:
CBR=30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
CBR of 30 needs minimum of 9
of pavement courses above it.
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6
14 of CBR 30

Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before
Materials available of:
CBR=15, 30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs

Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before
Materials available of:
CBR=15, 30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6

Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before
Materials available of:
CBR=15, 30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6
A CBR of 15 requires X above it

Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before
Materials available of:
CBR=15, 30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6
A CBR of 15 requires 15 above it

Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before
Materials available of:
CBR=15, 30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6
A CBR of 15 requires 15 above it
A CBR of 30 requires X above it

Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before
Materials available of:
CBR=15, 30, 80
Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6
A CBR of 15 requires 15 above it
A CBR of 30 requires 9 above it

Your turn.
Subbase of CBR=7,
50,000 lb loads for a taxiway
CBR materials available: 80, 30, 15
Design the pavement with attention paid to optimizing costs and stability

Your turn.
Sub base of CBR=7,
50,000 lb loads for a taxiway
CBR materials available: 80, 30, 15
Design the pavement with attention paid to optimizing
costs and stability
Solution:
Total Thickness: 28
Wearing Surface Thickness: 4
Upper 6 of CBR=80
CBR 30 of 7
CBR 15 of 11

Homework:
Subbase of CBR=15,
70,000 lb loads for a runway
CBR materials available: 80, 40, 20
Design the pavement with attention paid to optimizing costs and stability