THE POTENTIAL FOR A THEORETICAL BASED APPROACH TO FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT DESIGN

This paper outlines the reasons for using a theoretical approach to flexible pavement design showing how pavement analysis can be carried out. A potential use of the theory is demonstrated by an investigation of a type of pavement failure where the analyses helped identify some likely significant factors. It is shown that shear stress at the interface between wearing and basecourse layers is more dependent on the stiffness of the roadbase and less on the stiffness of the subgrade, sub-base and surfacing. Because of the type of slippage failures experienced on roads with wet-mix or granular bases the degree of compaction of the roadbase during its early life is likely to be significant. Standard surface deflection measurements are unlikely to predict the likelihood of slippage failures occurring. Surface deflection is shown to be strongly dependent on the strain in the subgrade. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Asphalt and Coated Macadam Association, Limited

  25 Lower Belgrave Street
  London SW1,   England 
• Authors:
  • BROWN, S F
  • Pell, P S
• Publication Date: 1976-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 11-16
• Serial:
  • Queen's Highway
  • Issue Number: 107

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Base course (Pavements); Compaction; Deflection; Deformation; Failure; Flexible pavements; Pavement design; Shear strength; Shear stress; Stiffness; Stresses; Subgrade (Pavements); Surfaces; Surfacing; Wearing course (Pavements)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Slippage
• ITRD Terms: 2990: Basecourse; 3686: Compaction; 5586: Deflection; 5595: Deformation; 5520: Failure; 2944: Flexible pavement; 3055: Pavement design; 2961: Roadbase; 5531: Shear; 5931: Stiffness; 5575: Stress (in material); 2950: Subgrade; 2972: Surfacing; 2980: Wearing course
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149086
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 2 1977 12:00AM