Computing ESAL AASHTO design for flexible pavement

ESALi= fd x Gjt x AADTi x 365 x FEi

Where

ESALi = equivalent accumulated 18 000 lb (80 KN) single axle load for the axle type (i)

fd =design lane factor

Gji =growth factor for a given growth rate (j) and design period (i)

AADTi =first year annual average daily traffic for axle type (i)

FEi = load equivalency factor for type (i)

Growth factor calculation , example :design period =20 years . traffic growth 4%

.
Gji = = = 29.78
.

Percentage of truck on the design lane

number of truck traffic percentage of trucks

lane (two directions) in design lane
2 50
4 45 (35-48)
6 or more 40 (25-48)

Example: 8 lane divided highway, AADT in both directions = during the first year= 12000
Passenger cars 50%

Type axles Load/ axle Equiv. factor

Truck1 33% 2 single 6000 lb 0.01
Truck2 17% 3 single 10000 lb 0.088

Traffic growth =4%

Design life =20 years
% of traffic on design lane = 45%
Pt=2.5 SN= 5
growth factor =29.78

ESALi= fd x Gjt x AADTi x 365 x Ni x FEi

Truck 1 ESAL= 0.45 x 29.78 x 12000 x 0.33 x 365 x 2 x 0.01 = 0.378x106

Truck 2 ESAL=0.45 x 29.78 x12000 x 0.17 x 365 x 3 x 0.0877=2.6343x106

Total ESAL= 3.0217x106

 Computing ESAL AASHTO design for flexible pavement

SN=5 pt=2.5

12k single 24k (tandem) 24k (tandem)

Equ.f=0.189 0.260 0.260

.
ESALi= fd x Gjt x AADTi x 365 x FEi Gji = = = 29.78
.

Equiv. Design Type of AADT Design Growth Growth ESAL (w18)

factor period highway lane rate factor
Repetition
years factor
on the
design lane

0.709 20 Two lane- 2000 both 0.5 0 20 5175700

two way directions

0.709 20 4 lane 2000 both 0.4 0 20 4140560

divided directions

0.709 20 4lane 1000 in 0.8 0 20 4140560

divided one
direction

0.709 20 6 lane 3000 both 0.35 4% 29.78 11413185

divided directions

0.709 20 6lane 500 on the 0.3 4% 29.78 5434850

design lane