Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

The Philippines have 2 seasons – wet and dry season, almost half a year of each. Some may say it

is better to live in a tropical country like the Philippines because it experiences no winter season.

However, the Philippines experiences a great number of typhoon per year due to its geographical

location. The Philippines is located above the equator and just beside it is the world’s largest ocean

– the Pacific Ocean. With that being said, typhoon which results to a high number of damage is a

usual occurrence in the Philippines. In response to that, continuous innovation in engineering is

relevant. One of the biggest problems is flood, this is the first main problem that comes to mind

when talking about typhoon. When flood happens, it is like a domino effect of dilemma to the

public.

According to the study of Brattebo & Booth of “Long-term analysis of quantity and quality

performance of permeable pavement systems”, it says that after 6 long years of daily usage, it has

shown no major signs of wear [16]. With that, the researchers wanted to apply the concept of

Permeable Pavement to the Philippines specifically Sampaloc, Manila. The researchers’ aim is to

design a permeable pavement with the aid of a program called Permeable Design Pro which

according to David Smith, this design software helps design professionals and help the permeable

pavement achieve its full potential. This program is used in other countries like the North America

where the weather is different to the Philippines [2]. The Philippines is a tropical country unlike
the North America. Also, the Philippines experiences a lot of typhoon each year due to its

geographical setting causing the rainfall data to be different.

1.1 Background of the Study

Manila is popular for being easily flooded, it is like a catchment basin that take hold of the storm

water from elevated areas surrounding it like Quezon City. Sampaloc, Manila is one example of

where flood frequently occur. Flood generates traffic congestion which is a dilemma for the

thousands of students in the surrounding area [1].

The present design in Manila is that the pavement carry up to tons of heavy trucks and the drainage

system carry all of the storm water runoff. In other countries like the United States of America and

Canada, they have started using Permeable Pavement; a pavement that carries traffic loads and at

the same time accommodate storm water to avoid flash flood [2].

In any structure that is to be constructed, the first essential requirement is to know what type of

soil you are dealing with. In order to design and construct a structure, it is most important to

consider the soil properties of the site.

While in specifically designing a pavement, the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) is also one

of the major factors to consider because these are the loads that the pavement will carry. It is

defined as a measurement used in transportation engineering on how busy a road is. It is a daily

24-hour axle counts for a segment of road, and is usually the volume of vehicle traffic annually

divided by 365. AADT may be adjusted for day of the week, seasonal variations, and/or vehicle

classifications. This will be the type of measurement to measure the average generated volume of

traffic on a segment of road [3]. Also, when designing a Permeable Pavement where the
hydrological factors are also considered, it is utmost important to consider the precipitation data

like the rainfall intensity with different returning periods.

In line with these factors, the researchers initially gathered the Soil Investigation Report, Annual

Average Daily Traffic, and the Rainfall Intensity.

The Applied Research Associates Inc. developed the program Permeable Design Pro. The Applied

Research Associated Inc. transportation sector provides services for pavement engineering of

roadways, parking areas, intermodal facilities and airfields. Additional support with the

development came from i2b Global Inc. an IT consulting firm providing custom software and

internet solutions. The program was then distributed by Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute

(ICPI) [4].

The Permeable Design Pro incorporates hydrological and structural design results for Permeable

Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP). The said program follows the Interlocking Concrete

Pavement Institute (ICPI) design criteria that is currently used in North America and other foreign

countries. User-selected parameters are required in the program and then the program permits the

user to administer sensitivity analysis to determine the design. The results are estimated pavement

capacity for storage and infiltration of water runoff and at the same time carry the traffic loading

[4].

1.2 Significance of the Study

In response to the annual numerous typhoon events in the Philippines, the study of Permeable

Pavement will help lessen the flood and heavy traffic in the roads

The study of Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement will be a great help to the following:

1. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

The study will be a significant endeavor in promoting new innovations in designing

pavements. The study can help the Department of Public Works and Highways for future

research about Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement. The design will be a good

replacement for roads in areas with restricted spaces for roads and drainage.

2. Private Sector

Most of the time when flood happens, heavy traffic occurs. Offices and schools are often

suspended due to flood that is caused by heavy rainfall events. The number of work hours

lost greatly affects the schedule of work and budget. The private sector will benefit from

the study because the permeable pavement’s function is to avoid flood.

3. Public

A part of university belt lies on Sampaloc, Manila. Most of the residential areas are

condominiums, apartment and dormitories where students and professors stays, while the

others commute everyday to and from Manila. When heavy rainfall event occurs, these

people are usually stranded due to flash flood and heavy traffic. This study will be

significant to lessen the discomfort of the public.

3. Civil Engineering Students

 This study will also serve as a future reference for researchers on the subject of pavement

design. The study will also discuss Permeable Design Pro that can help in designing

Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement.

1.3 Objectives

The main objective of this study is to design the thickness of base and subbase of a Permeable

Interlocking Concrete Pavement that is structurally and hydrologically adequate for the tertiary

roads of Disctrict IV, Manila using Permeable Design Pro.

The specific objectives of the study are:

I. to select the initial base and subbase thickness using Permeable Interlocking Concrete

Pavement Guidelines;

II. to analyse the different characteristics of the contributing areas to the Permeable

Interlocking Concrete Pavement;

III. to evaluate the adequacy of the initial thickness based on the structural and hydrological

results provided by the program;

IV. to develop a significant study about reducing stormwater for the benefit of the community.

1.4 Scope and Delimitations

The study of designing a permeable pavement is limited to the parameters at District IV, Manila.

It will only cover the tertiary roads along the District IV not including the circumferential and

radial roads that is designed to carry tons of heavy trucks that cannot be supported by the permeable

pavement.
The tertiary roads that will be taken into consideration are the following: A Maceda St., Alfonso

Mendoza St., Algeciras St., Buenos Aires St., Bustillos St., Dapitan St., Domingo Santiago St., E

Quintos St., F Cayco St., G Tuazon St., J Fajardo St., JP Laurel St., Laon-Laan St., M Dela Fuente,

M. Earnshaw St., Ma. Clara, Manga St., Mendiola St., Nicanor Reyes St., P Florentino, Paltok St.,

Retiro St., SH Loyola, and VG Cruz. However, due to time constraints, the tertiary road that will

be designed considering the contributing area is the one who contains the highest Annual Average

Daily Traffic which is the Laon Laan St. Laon Laan St. proves to be the busiest tertiary road in

terms of traffic [ref] and it is also one of the 100 most flood prone areas in Manila. [ref]

The Soil Investigation Report is assumed to be the same because all of these lies on the same

district – District IV. The Rainfall Intensity is also the same because all of District IV is covered

by the Port Area, Manila station.

The study will only consider the contributing areas such as open space, impervious areas, streets

and roads, urban districts, and residential districts which will be used for the analysis of the

program.

The study will use parameters such as the design criteria of the present pavement and the traffic

loads that it carries for the structural analysis. The base and subbase thickness of the permeable

pavement will be designed. The maximum ESAL that the PICP can hold is greater than 600,000

but less than 1,000,000.

In designing the Permeable Pavement, the researchers will base on the book “Permeable

Pavements Recommended Design Guidelines” by American Society of Civil Engineers.

The researchers will use a software named Permeable Design Pro in analyzing the adequacy of the

design of PICP. The program assess if a certain place is adequate to have a Permeable Interlocking
Concrete Pavement. The program conforms to the American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for Design of Pavement Structures 1993.

The study will only focus on the structural and hydrological results based on the software. The

study will also provide suggested materials to be used for the construction.

Lastly, the researchers will relate the effect of this research in the community.

1.5 Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework shown below will serve as a guide for the researchers in identifying the

input, process and output of the research.

The inputs of this study include the properties of the underlying soil, annual average daily traffic,

the amount of rainfall in the area, slope of the pavement and the adjacent area size and drainage

properties.

The process covers the identification of the parameters needed for the program, the selection of

the pavement layer type and thickness. As well as the operation of the program using the identified

parameters and then after that the hydrological analysis which covers the inflow and outflow

analyses and lastly the structural analysis.

The output of the study will include the summary report and results of the analyses performed.

Reports about the site information, layer information and structural information will be released

as well as the hydrological design information and results. Input and output hydrographs will also

be given. Aside from the program, the researchers will also relate the effect of the study to the

community.
 INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1. Traffic Loads 1. Inflow Analysis

Results
2. Subgrade
Properties a. Selection of 2. Outflow
Pavement layer a. Hydrological Analysis Results
3. Amount of type and Analysis
Rainfall Identification of thickness 3. Structural
- Inflow Analyses Analysis Results
Parameters
4. Pavement - Outflow Analyses
b. Operation of
Slope program using 4. Input/Output
b. Structural
identified Hydrographs
5. Adjacent Area Analysis
parameters
Size and Drainage 5. Summary
Properties Report

6. Initial 6. Effects of the

thickness study in the
Figure 1. Conceptual Framework community

1.6 Definition of Terms

Aggregate – a component of a composite material that resists compressive stress.

Asphalt – a composite material commonly used to surface roads, parking lots, airports, as well as

the core of embankment dams.

Concrete – a composite material composed of coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid

cement that hardens over time.

Design Criteria – are the explicit goals that a project must achieve in order to be successful.

Design Life – is the period of time during which the item is expected by its designers to work

within its specified parameters; the life expectancy of the item.

Equivalent Single Axle Load (ESAL) – is a concept developed from data collected at the American

Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) Road Test to establish a damage relationship

for comparing the effects of axles carrying different loads. The reference axle load is an 18,000-

lb. single axle with dual tires.

Flash Flood – a sudden local flood, typically due to heavy rain.

Hydrology – is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth

and other planets, including the water cycle, water resources and environmental watershed

sustainability.

Impervious – not allowing entrance or passage; not allowing passage of water

Impervious areas – are mainly artificial structures that are covered by impenetratable materials

such as asphalt, concrete, brick and stone.

Load – a heavy or bulky thing that is being carried or is about to be carried.

Open spaces – is any open piece of land that is undeveloped and accessible to the public.

Pavement – the hard layered structure that forms a road carriageway, airfield runway, Vehicle

Park, or other paved areas

Pervious – admitting of passage or entrance; permeable

Rainfall Intensity – ratio of the total amount of rain (rainfall depth) falling during a given period

to the duration of the period. It is expressed in depth units per unit time, usually as mm per hour

(mm/hr.)

Residential district – are composed of residential buildings or houses.

Roadway – the part of road intended for vehicles, in contrast to a sidewalk or median.

Software – a collection of instructions that enable to user to interact with a computer, its hardware

or to perform tasks.

Storm Water – surface water in abnormal quantity resulting from heavy falls of rain or snow.

Street – a public road in a city or town, typically with houses and buildings on one or both sides.

Structural Analysis – is the determination of the effects of loads on physical structures and their

components.

Structural Design – is the methodical investigation of the stability, strength and rigidity of

structures.

Structural Load/s – are forces, deformations, or accelerations applied to a structure or its

components.

Structural Number (SN) – is an index providing an indication of the strength of the pavement layers

and of the total pavement structure.

Sub-base – is the layer of aggregate material laid on the subgrade, on which the base course layer

is located.
Traffic – vehicles moving on a road or public highway.

Transportation – the action of transporting someone or something or the process of being

transported.

Urban district - are mainly composed of commercial, industrial and business establishments.

Waterway – a river, canal, or other route for travel by water.