There are various methods of flexible pavement design such as empirical and semi-empirical
methods. Flexible pavement design by semi-empirical method is discussed in this article.
When a flexible pavement is subjected loading, the stress is maximum at the top layer of
pavement. This stress transmits to another layer by point to point contact. Design of flexible
pavement is done to bear the all stresses subjected on the top layer.
Flexible Pavement Design by Semi Empirical Method
Following are the semi empirical methods for flexible pavement design
Triaxial test method
Burmister’s method
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Triaxial Test Method of Flexible Pavement Design
In this method triaxial test is conducted on soil specimen under 160kN/m2 of lateral pressure.
Hence modulus of elasticity is calculated from stress strain curve. Traffic coefficient X and
saturation coefficient Y are introduced in this method. These are multiplied with the load
system to get the total pavement thickness. Total pavement thickness by triaxial test
method
Where P = wheel load = design deflection = 0.25cm E = elasticity modulus X = traffic
coefficient Y = saturation coefficient The recommended values of X and Y values with
respect to Average Daily Traffic (ADT) and average annual rainfall are tabulated below.
Traffic coefficient X
ADT (number)
40-400 ½
401-800 2/3
801-1200 5/6
1201-1800 1
1801-2700 7/6
2701-4000 8/6
4001-6000 9/6
6001-9000 10/6
9001-13500 11/6
13501-20000 12/6
Average annual rainfall Saturation coefficient (Y)
(cm)
38-50 0.5
51-64 0.6
65-76 0.7
77-90 0.8
91-100 0.9
101-127 1.0
Burmister’s Method of Flexible Pavement Design
Burmister introduced a semi empirical method for the design of flexible pavements. In this
method, he considered pavement as number of layers. And some assumptions are considered
which are as follows:
The material in each layer is homogeneous
The material is isotropic
The material is elastic in nature
Contact between the layers is continuous
Unloaded top layer is free from normal and shearing stresses
The surface layer is infinite in length (horizontal direction) and finite in depth
(vertical direction).
The underlying layers are infinite in both directions.
Burmister given the deformation equations for both flexible and rigid pavements by
considering the poisons ratio of soil and pavement material to 0.5.
For flexible pavements
For rigid pavements
Where, p = uniform pressure a = radius of plates F2 = deflection factor Es = modulus of the
subgrade soil. Deflection factor is dependent of ratio of modulus of subgrade soil to the
modulus of pavement material. So, from the below graph we can select the value of
deflection factor corresponding to the ratio of base layer thickness to the radius of load that is
h/a.
Procedure of Flexible Pavement Design by Burmister’s Method
In the Burmister’s design process, firstly conduct plate bearing test on the soil. The diameter
of plate used is 30cm. now determine the modulus of subgrade soil. In the next step,
determine the deflection factor from the below formula
After obtaining the deflection factor from above formula, now select the value of ratio of
modulus of subgrade soil to the modulus of pavement material (Es/Ep) for the given value of
(h/a ratio from the graph. Now for the design load (P) and tire pressure (p) determine the
contact radius (a) from the below formula.
And again, find the new value of deflection factor F2 for the design deflection value
Where = 0.25cm or 0.5cm. For the obtained values of new deflection factor and Es/Ep ratio,
select the appropriate h/a ratio from the above graph. And finally, by substituting contact
radius (a) in h/a ratio we can get the value of base layer thickness (h).
Read More: Flexible Pavement Design by CBR Method Flexible Pavement Design by
Group Index Method Flexible Pavement Composition and Structure Types of Pavement
- Flexible and Rigid Pavement
