Federal Aviation Administration Rigid Pavement Design Method Part I

Rigid Pavements
Portland cement concrete placed on a granular or treated subbase course that is supported on a compacted subgrade (AC 150/5320-6D, Change 3, paragraph 324).

Rigid Pavement Design

Series of design curves based on the Westergaard edge loading analysis Design curves depend on gear configuration Design curves & optional design curves Curves provide slab thickness only Curves based on 20 year design life

Dense Liquid Foundation

k = Modulus of Subgrade Reaction

Assumes: Plate in Contact w/ Subgrade

Aircraft Considerations
Load Pavement design based on maximum anticipated takeoff weight Assumes 95% of the load on main gear

Aircraft Considerations
Landing gear type and geometry Single Dual Dual tandem Wide body aircraft (B-747) Tire pressure (75-200 psi) Traffic volume (annual departures by aircraft type)

Design Inputs
Concrete flexural strength Supporting modulus Design aircraft gross weight Annual departures of the design aircraft

Design Aircraft & Departures

Determined as before

Concrete Flexural Strength

Measured using ASTM C78 Value should be based on age and strength of concrete at the time the pavement will be opened to traffic

Concrete Flexural Strength

Concrete Flexural Strength

Supporting Modulus
k value Spring constant of the supporting material Indicative of the support material bearing capacity

k Value
The k value should be assigned to the material directly beneath the concrete pavement Establish a k value for the subgrade, then correct it to account for the subbase A minimum of 4 in. of subbase is generally required (paragraph 326)

Subgrade k Value
Should be established on subgrade prepared to specification Plate load test (AASHTO T222) Values from Table 2-3 may be used Only approximate Use engineering judgment

Subbase k Value
Can be assigned using Table 2-4 Upper graph used Subbase of composed of wellgraded, crushed aggregate such as P-209 Lower graph used Bank run sand & grave (P-154)

Stabilized Subbase k Value

k value will increase when subbase is stabilized Figure 3-16 can be used to determine likely increase Figure is applicable to: Cement stabilized (P-304) Econocrete (P-306) Bituminous stabilized (P-401)

Frost Protection
Complete frost protection Limited subgrade frost penetration 65% of frost penetration depth is composed of non-frost susceptible material Reduced subgrade strength Increase pavement thickness

Frost Protection
Option 1 (Complete) Used w/ FG-3 and FG-4 soils Areas where no heave can be tolerated Option 2 (Reduced) FG-4, unless option 1 is required FG-1, FG-2, FG-3 where minor heave can be tolerated

Frost Protection
Option 3 FG-1, FG-2, FG-3 where some degree of heave is permissible Also, with these three soils in areas subject to slow traffic where heave can be tolerated

Traffic Distribution
Full-depth design thickness required where departing aircraft use pavement Aprons Holding areas Center of runways and taxiways

Traffic Distribution
90% of design thickness required where arriving aircraft will use pavement High speed turnouts 70% of design thickness required where pavement use is unlikely Outer edges of runways and taxiways

Traffic Distribution
Thinning of pavement sections applies only to the concrete slab, not the subbase