A Simplified Flexible Pavement Structure Design Method Based on Mathematical Model

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to develop a simplified flexible pavement structure design method based on mathematical model depending on Egyptian available material and environmental conditions. There are several methods for pavement design used around the world. These methods could be classified into empirical methods or mechanistic-empirical methods. Empirical methods are not accurate and always depend on local conditions for material, traffic, and environment. Mechanistic methods are complicated to use. In order to reach the main objective of this research, Egypt has been geographically divided into four zones based on temperature conditions during the year. First zone represents the northern of Egypt. Alexandria has been taken to represent this zone. Cairo has been taken to represent the second zone which is the middle of Egypt. The third zone is the southern Egypt and it is represented by Aswan. Finally, Sinai has been taken to represent the fourth zone which is the eastern of Egypt. Air temperature have been collected for the last five years for each city and converted to Asphalt temperature. Layered elastic theory have been used to determine the maximum tensile strain at the bottom of asphalt layer and the maximum compressive strain at the top of subgrade layer for a group of pavement sections for each zone mentioned above. Sections were proposed based on Egyptian material characteristics and common used pavement sections. KENP