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2. Recent Advancement in
Flexible Pavement Design
-AN OVERVIEW ON IRC:37
- Prof. R. Srinivasa Kumar
rungoz@yahoo.com
rungoz@Osmania.ac.in
Osmania University
Hyderabad, India.
1
4. Factors considered for Material Testing
Traffic
Characteristics
Material
Characteristics
Environmental
Effects
Evaluation &
Condition
PMS &
Rehabilitation
Identify Design
Features
3
5. 4
Types of Pavement Design
1. Empirical Methods
Group-1: GI, FAA 1945
Group-2: CBR, Plate
Load test etc.
Group-3: AASHTO-
1972, 81, 86 (Regres
2.Theoretical or
Analytical Methods
Burmister (1943,1945)
3. M-E Methods
2008-AASHTO guide
IRC:37-2018,
IRC:58-2015
6. 5
List of A Few Empirical Design Methods
Test on subgrade soil Design Input Design Methods
1. California Bearing
Ratio (CBR)
CBR Value
California State Highway Dept.(1928), US
Corps of Engineers (1958), British Revised
CBR, Wyoming CBR, National Asphalt
Pavement Association, NAPA (Foster, 1965),
National Crushed Stone Association, (NCSA,
1972), TAI (1970),
IRC:37-1970 Method & NAASRA (1979).
2. Cone Penetration Penetration Value North Dakota Cone Method
3. Plate Load
Deflection of Plate or
Modulus of subgrade
reaction (k)
US Navy Method based on Burmister’s Elastic
Theory for Airfield Pavements and Canadian
Dept. of Transport or McLeod Method
4. Hveem
Stabilometer and
Cohesiometer
R and C-values
respectively
California Resistance Value Method (1948)
5. Triaxial
Compression
Elastic Modulus value
Triaxial Method (1910), which was modified
by Kansas State Highway Dept.
(A semi-arbitrary method which partly
comprises theoretical consideration)
7. INDIAN Guidelines for the Design of
Flexible Pavements by IRC:37
Source:IRC:37-2018
6
Courtesy: IRC
9. First Guidelines: IRC:37-1970
• Adapted based on International Practice (California
State Highway Dept., & TRRL) of Empirical Design
with suitable adjustments
• Design Traffic based on CV (>=3ton);Growth@7.5%
• Categories of Commercial Traffic:A – E (450-1500 CVPD)
• Subgrade is characterized by CBR value
• Total Thickness: CBR Vs. Traffic range (A-E)
• Individual layer thicknesses can be estimated from
the CBR value of the underlying layer
• Limitations: climatic conditions based on pavement
temperatures, vehicle categories, axle load
spectrum, no-lanes and materials Char. of different
layers
8
14. First Revision: IRC:37-1984
• continued for design traffic upto 1500 CVD
• However, modified CBR curves for 10.2 T single
axle legal limits were used instead of 8.16 T and
thickness was increased by 10 - 20%. 13
Courtesy: IRC
16. The M-E Era started in INDIA
from 2001 onwards….
15
Courtesy: IRC
17. M-E Approach of pavement Design
Mechanistic- Part
• Multi layered structure
• Each layer characterized
by its thickness, modulus
of elasticity and
Poisson’s ratio.
• Stresses, strains &
deflections at critical
locations within the
pavement structure
under traffic loading
Empirical Part
• These calculated critical
strains were correlated
with pavement
performance indicators:
Cracking & Rutting for a
design life by empirically
derived equations known
as distress models/
performance prediction
models based on past
experience, field obs. and
laboratory results.
• Pavement Performance
Prediction PPP-Model.
Structural Response Model 16
19. M-E Designs Started from
• Inspired from:
• First International Conference on the
Structural Design of Asphalt
Pavements
• Ann Arber, Michigan, USA, 1962.
18
20. M-E Pavement Design Method - IRC Design Method
Subgrade (En, μn)
Granular Sub-base (E3, μ3)
Granular Base (E2, μ2)
Bituminous Layer (E1, μ1)
310 mm
εt
εz
Tyres
h1
h2
h3
1. Dorman, 1962
2. Saal and Pell, University of Nottingham with
Shell Laboratories, 1960
3. Monismith et al. University of California, 1961
21. FP design based on M–E principles
20
• .COmparing Mix and Pavement StructureS
(COMPASS) by the CROW working group.
• South African mechanistic design method (SAMDM)
(Theyse et el. 1996 and 1997).
• CARE (Road and Hydraulic Engineering Institute,
Deft) (CROW Report D06-06).
• French Design Manual, LCPC, Paris (CROW Report
D06-06).
• Shell Pavement Design Manual (Shell 1985).
• CROW Design Procedure for Thin Asphalt
Pavements: (CROW Report D06-06).
• The Asphalt Institute Method, MS-1, USA (TAI 1991).
AUSTROADS Pavement Design Guide, Australia
(AUSTROADS 1992).
22. FP design based on M–E principles
21
• Washington State DoT(WSDOT) Pavement Guide
(WSDOT 1995; Mahoney and Pierce 1996).
• Minnesota DoT (MnDOT) mechanistic–empirical
flexible pavement design (1998).
• AASHTO M–E Design Guide for New and
Rehabilitated Pavement Structures (NCHRP, 2003).
• Key features: Finite element analysis, load spectra,
roughness evaluation in terms of IRI and reliability in
life-cycle cost assessment.
• Analytical design methods developed at IIT
Kharagpur, India. (Sudhakar 1993 and Animesh
1998).
• IRC:37-2001.
23. IRC:37-2001
• Design Approach:
• 3 Layer structure
• Strains @ critical locations
• FPAVE- Linear Elastic Model
• Based on R-56 (MORTH project)
• 150 msa
• Mix Specifications introduced
• E-values of DBM (with 60/70) used for
determination of allowable strains in BT layer
• E-values: subgrade, GSB and SubBase given
22
Courtesy: IRC
24. IRC:37-2001 Contd.,
• Design Approach:
• Fatigue criterion: calibrated at an AAPT of 35 °C
for BC (80/100 bitumen). Generalised for all grades
of bitumen for a temp. 20 - 40 °C:
• Nf = 2.21× 10–4 ×(1/ εt)3.89 × (1/Ebit)0.854
Nf = No of csa to cause 20% cracked surface
The DBM with 60/70 used
• Rutting criterion: Allowable rut depth = 20 mm.
NR = 4.1656× 10–8 ×(1/ εz)4.5337
NR = No. of csa to produce rut depth of 20 mm.
εz = Vertical compressive subgrade strain (×10–6)
23
Courtesy: IRC
25. IRC:37-2001 Contd.,
• Empirical Eq. used:
Esubgrade (MPa) = 10 × CBR for CBR ≤ 5 %
Esubgrade (MPa) = 17.6 × (CBR)0.64 for CBR > 5 %
Egranular layer (MPa) = Esubgrade × 0.2 × (hgran)0.45
Min. Thickness:
GSB: up to 10 msa is 150 mm (CBR >20%)
exceeding 10 msa is 200 mm (CBR>30
Gran.Base:
up to 2 msa is 225 mm (CBR >20%)
exceeding 2 msa is 250 mm (CBR>30%)
24
Courtesy: IRC
32. To prevent Intrusion of Fines
GSB Grades as per IRC:37 &
MORTH 2013
• MORTH GSB grades: I, II, III, IV, V and VI = 6
Select:
Upper GSB as DL: V & VI
Lower GSP as Filter/Separation Layer: III & IV
The DL should be tested for permeability and
gradation may be altered
31
35. Observations on IRC:37-2001
• Sufficient thickness of the sub-base/Gran. recommended
in 2001 to stand under construction traffic.
• Rutting in Subgrade & Gran.
• The data on bituminous layers (1980-90) were not very
thick in India and the rutting took place in the subgrade
and the granular layers only. (90% Reliability given in
2012)
• Providing large thickness of gran. layer does not reduce
in thickness of bituminous layer from fatigue
considerations
• Rutting in Bit. layer was to be taken care of by selecting
stiffer binder and mix design (2012 onwards…).
• 50% less rut depth found by VG 40 as compared with
VG 30 (MEPDG.., >2000CVPD & >400C). 34
36. Observations on IRC:37-2001
• Fatigue Resistance of Bituminous Layers
• Laboratory tests & field performance indicate that fatigue
life of a bituminous layer depends on bitumen content &
VG of a mix (C factor given in 2012)
• Softer grade (VG30) gave unstable mix with higher
bitumen content if exposed to construction traffic.
• Bituminous layer thickness >150 mm, the temperature of
the bottom DBM is lower than the top; little chance of
rutting in DBM, if the air void = 3%.
• Higher bitumen (having 0.5% - 0.6%) higher
bitumen(VG40) content in DBM makes the mix resistant
to stripping & impermeable and air void = 3% (CRRI)
• Tensile strains near edge of tyres will be higher due to
high temp. (TDC considered from 2012 onwards…)
• Polymer and CRMB: 2-10 times higher live than normal.
35
37. IRC:37-2012 (3rd Revision)
• IRC:37-2001, also applicable for upto 30
msa, used bitumen gr. VG 30, with 80%
reliability.
• IRC:37-2012 recommends VG 40 with
traffic beyond 30 msa with 90% reliability.
• Alternate materials: cementitious & RAP
considered to analysis using the software
IITPAVE, a modified version of FPAVE.
• Test values are based on National
Standards of Australia, South Africa and
AASHTO(MEPDG) and India/CRRI. 36
39. 38
Polymer-Modified Bitumen
• Polymers mixed with bitumen to improve strength:
In India, 3-types are widely used:
1. Poly-ethylene,
2. Vnyl-acetate
3. sSyrene-Butadine-Styrene.
• The above are used for preparation of modified bitumens and emulsions.
Elastomers
Induce elasticity & stiffness
properties to bitumen
1. Styrene Isoprene Styrene,
2. Styrene Butadiene Styrene,
Ethylene/propylene
3. Styrene Butadiene,
4. Poly-butadiene,
5. Some types of Rubbers
Plastomers
Induce plasticity or viscosity or stiffness to
bitumen.
1. Poly-ethylene,
2. Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
3. Ethylene Butyl Acrylate
4. Linear low-density Polyethylene
(LLDPE)
Types of Polymers
(Used for paving)
40. Advantages of Polymer Modified Bitumen
Increases
Softening Point
Increases
Viscosity & Shear
Resistance
Retards Oxidation
Reduce Rutting
Reduction Bitumen
by upto 10%
Extend upto 50% of
service period
39
41. IRC:37-2012 (3rd Revision)
• CASE-II
• Cement Treated: Sub-base & Base
• Sub-base with its upper 100 mm graded
as permeable “Drainage Layer” (infiltration
@ ≥300 m/day)
• Treated Base course should have a min.
UCC of 4.5 - 7 MPa in 7/28 days.
• Material Char. are from AASHTO 2002
(MEPDG).
40
43. IRC:37-2012 (3rd Revision)
• Min. Traffic growth @ 5%
• Design Life:
– NH& SH: 15 yr.
– Ex& Urban : >20 yr.
– Very High Vol roads: 200 msa
– Other : 10-15 yr.
• in-situ CBR of subgrade soil
(ASTM-D6951-09)
– Log10CBR = 2.465 – 1.12 log10N60
o
42
44. Single
Wheel
(4000 kN)
Tyre
Pressure =
0.56 MPa
Embankment (CBR = 4%)
Subgrade-borrowed Soil
Layer (CBR = 12%)
500 mm
Tyre contact radius
a = 150.8 mm
12%
8.0%
4%
How to Compute Effective Subgrade CBR due to Capping Layer?
As per IRC:37-2012
Capping layer: 8% min.
designed traffic ≥ 450 CVPD
43
45. IRC:37-2012 (3rd Revision)
• Fatigue Model:
• cracking 20% area for traffic up to 30 msa
• 10% for beyond traffic.
<30msa, VG30,35oC 2001
>30msa, VG40
Courtesy: IRC
44
46. IRC:37-2012 (3rd Revision)
• Rutting Model:
• limiting rutting: as 20 mm in 20 % of the
length for design traffic up to 30 msa
• 10 % of the length for beyond.
• Charts: 2-150msa; CBR:3-15%
80%2001
90% Reliability
Courtesy: IRC
45
48. 2018 & 2012
Perpetual Pavements (≥ 300msa)
• AI, MS-4, 7th Ed. (Endurance Limits)
• Tensile strain in Bit. layer < 70 micro strain
• Comp. strain in Subgrage layer < 200 micro strain
• INDIA
• AAPT: 350C
• Endurance Limits: 80 & 200 micro strain
• Only top surface need maintenance….
Courtesy: IRC
47
49. Example 10.6, Page:347
Check adequacy of WMM = 200mm ? Assumed Value
Proposed WMM as GSB thickness = 200mm
Effective modulus of combined capping layer with subgrade = 72 MPa
Given Pavement with Standard Axle Load 48
50. General Design-
Steps
Inputs: Select Criterion,
layers No. & Thickness, E, µ,
h, P, Nf
By Eqn’s Calculate: Allowable Strains in
1. εv in Subgrade top
Compute: Actual Strains in
1. εv in Subgrade top
Run
NO
YES
Finalize Base-Thickness
Check
?
Actual < Allowable
Strain
49
51. What is new in IRC:37-2018
Criteria for selection of Grade of Bitumen
2001
2012
2018
Courtesy: IRC
50
52. What is new in IRC:37-2018
Criteria for selection of Grade of Bitumen
2012
2018
Courtesy: IRC
51
53. What is new in IRC:37-2018
1984 2012
2018
Courtesy: IRC
52
54. What is new in IRC:37-2018
Courtesy: IRC
» 2012
»
2018
53
55. Modes of Failures considered for
Mechanistic-Empirical Design
Failure
Modes
Fatigue
Failure
Rutting
Failure
54
56. Failure
Modes
Fatigue
Failure
Rutting
Failure
Nf = 1.6064 × C× 10–4 × (1/ εt)3.89 × (1/Ebit)0.854 80% reliability
Nf = 0.5161 × C× 10–4 × (1/ εt)3.89 × (1/Ebit)0.854 90% reliability
Where,
Nf = No. of cumulative 80 kN-standard axles to cause 20% and more cracked
surface area
εt = Tensile strain at bottom fibre of the bituminous layer (×10–6) and
Ebit = Resilient modulus of the bituminous surfacing (MPa).
Vbe = Volume of effective bitumen binder in the bituminous layer (%)
Va = Volume of air voids in the bituminous layer (%)
Fatigue Cracking of Asphalt
Pavement Courtesy: IRC
55
57. Subgrade Rutting Criteria
Rut Depth ≥ 20mm
Failure Rutting Condition
NR = 4.1656 × 10–8 ×(1/ εz)4.5337 80 % reliability < 20msa
NR = 1.41 × 10–8 ×(1/ εz)4.5337 90 % reliability ≥ 20 msa
where,
NR = No. of cumulative standard axles to produce rut depth of 20 mm
εz = Vertical compressive sub-grade strain (×10–6)
εz
Courtesy: IRC
56
58. CBT Failure
Criterion
Based on cum. Std. axle load
repetitions
estimated using VDF
Based on cum. Std. axle
load repetitions
estimated using Axle-Load
Spectrum
Fatigue Performance of Cement Treated Base (CTB)
IRC:37-2018
Courtesy: IRC
57
59. Fatigue Performance of Cement Treated Base (CTB)
IRC:37-2018
∑CFD(Single + Tandem + Tridem) ≤ 1.0?
Check :
Cumulative Fatigue Damage (CFD) in CTB
CBT Failure
Criterion
Based on cum. Std. axle load
repetitions
estimated using VDF
Based on cum. Std. axle
load repetitions
estimated using Axle-Load
Spectrum
Based on cum. Std. axle load
repetitions
estimated using Axle-Load
Spectrum Courtesy: IRC
58
60. Single axle (80 kN = 80,000 kN)
Dual Wheels
310 mm
Tyre pressure =0.56 Mpa
Standard Axle Load - Single
155 mm 155 mm
59
61. • Traffic Surveys:
As per IRC:9-1972: 7 day 24 hours traffic count.
nc
r
P
A )
1
(
Laden weight ≥ 3 Ton
Traffic Growth Rate = 5.0% Min.
Design Period = 20 yr. Min., Ex, NH, SH
=15 yr. Other
Traffic
Design Traffic:
60
65. Sub-base
Granular Sub-base (GSB)
Min. Thickness:
Filter Layer :100 mm
Drainage layer :100 mm
Drainage-cum-filter Layer
= 150 mm
µ = 0.35
Cemented Treated
Sub-base (CTSB)
ECTSB :600 MPa
If UCS:1.5-3MPa
ECTSB :400 MPa
If UCS:-0.75-1.5 MPa
µ = 0.25
Egranular (MPa):
= EEffective-subgrade × 0.2 × (hgran)0.45
64
66. Base
Granular Base (GB)
WMM, WBM
Min. Thickness: 150 mm
Cemented Treated
Base (CTB)
Min. Thickness: 100 mm
ECTB : 5000 MPa
UCS:4.5-7MPa
µ = 0.25
Egranular :
= EEffective-subgrade × 0.2 × (hboth)0.45
Egranular placed on CTSB:
= 300 Mpa, Natural Gravel
= 350 Mpa ,Crished Roack.
Crack Relief Layer:
Min. Thickness (WMM)
= 100 mm
Ecrack Relief : 450 Mpa
µ = 0.35
Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement
RAP:
Min. Thickness = 100 mm
ERAP: 800 Mpa
µ = 0.35
65
67. General
Design-Steps
Inputs: Select Criterion,
layers No. & Thicknesses,
E, µ, h, P, Nf
By Eqn’s Calculate: Allowable Strains in
1. εt in Bituminous Layer
2. εv in Subgrade top
Compute: Actual Strains in
1. εt in Bituminous/ CBT Layer
2. εv in Subgrade top
Run
NO
YES
Final Thicknesses
Check
?
Actual < Allowable
Strains
66
68. Example - Pavement Composition
Sub-grade (75 MPa), µ = 0.35
Granular Sub-Base
WMM
BC +DBM with
VG40
500 mm
140 mm
140 mm
640 mm
450 MPa, µ = 0.35
3000 MPa, µ = 0.35
Wheel
(20000
kN)
Tyre
Pressure
= 0.56
MPa
Wheel
(20000
kN)
Tyre
Pressure
= 0.56
MPa
80 kN of Std. Axle Load
Layer-1
Layer-2
Layer-3
155 mm
67
69. Run – IITPAVE Software
IRC:37-2018
Run
Courtesy: IRC
68
70. Example Input - IITPAVE
Sub-grade 75 Mpa, µ = 0.35
Granular Sub-Base
WMM
BC +DBM with VG40
500 mm
140 mm
140 mm
640 mm
450 MPa, µ = 0.35
3000 MPa, µ = 0.35
20000
kN
= 0.56
20000
kN
0.56
80 kN Axle Load
69
72. Example Output – IITPAVE
IRC:37-2018
Z= Depth from Surface
R= Radial Dist. from Center of Tyre
Contact Area
SigmaZ= Vertical Stress
R= Radial Dist. from Center of Tyre
Contact Area
Wheel
(20000
kN)
Tyre
Pressure
= 0.56
MPa
Wheel
(20000
kN)
Tyre
Pressure
= 0.56
MPa
155 mm
SigmaT= Tangential Stress
SigmaR= Radial Stress
TaoRZ= Shear Stress
DispZ= Vertical Deflection
epZ= Vertical Strain
epT= Hor. Tensile Strain
epR= Hor. Radial Strain
71
73. Max. of: epT & epR
Max. value of epT = 0.1283E-03 = 0.0001283
72
74. Max. epZ = ? In Subgrade
Max. value of epZ = 0.2053E-03 = 0.0002053
73
75. Challenges In Design- A look to the Future
• Well coordinated pavement performance
study and calibration of failure models in
India
• Air Temp & pavement Temp. across India
• As constructed Material Char. Data
• Guidelines do not constitute a rigid
standard
• Regional Designs suitable based on local
environment and pavement performance
in Hilly/Rolling/Coastal, Dry/Wet regions.
• LCC Analysis of the catalog-options 74
76. REFERENCES
IRC:37–1970, “Guidelines for the Design of Flexible Pavements”, First
published, The Indian Road Congress, New Delhi, September, 1970.
IRC:37–1984, “Guidelines for the Design of Flexible Pavements”, First
Revision, The Indian Road Congress, New Delhi, December, 1984.
IRC:37–2001, “Guidelines for the Design of Flexible Pavements”, Second
Revision, The Indian Road Congress, New Delhi, July, 2001.
IRC:37–2012, “Tentative Guidelines for the Design of Flexible Pavements”,
The Indian Road Congress, New Delhi, July, 2012.
IRC:37-2018, Guidelines
Garg, Sanjay, “Perpetual Flexible Pavements: Pavements of Future”, Journal
of the Indian Road Congress, Indian Roads Congress, Vol.73-1, 2012.
NCHRP, “Mechanistic-Empirical Design of New and Rehabilitated Pavement
Structures”, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, NCHRP
Project 1- 37A, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 2004.
AASHTO-MEPDG, “Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide, Interim
Edition: A Manual of Practice”, American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C., 2008.
R. Srinivasa Kumar, Pavement Design, Universities Press, 2012
R. Srinivasa Kumar, Transportation Engineering, Universities Press, 2018 75
77. Books Authored by me Prof. R. Srinivasa Kumar
Osmania University, India
ungoz@yahoo.com
76
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