Traffic and Axle Loads
Typical Axle Combinations
Single Axle
Tandem Axle
Tridem Axle
Typical Weight Limits
Weigh Stations
Axle Load Histogram
600
500
Frequency
400
300
200
100
0
3000-6999 7000-7999
800011999
1200015999
1600017999
1800019999
Single Axle Load (lbs)
2000021999
2200023999
2400025999
2600029999
Axle Load Histogram
250
Frequency
200
150
100
50
0
600011999
1200017999
1800023999
2400029999
3000031999
3200033999
Tandem Axle Load (lbs)
3400035999
3600037999
3800039999
4000041999
Standard Axle Load
9 kips
9 kips
Single Axle, Dual Wheels
Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM
GENERIC METHOD
Mazda Miata
Curb weight = 2300 lb
1
dM
consumption per passage
NM
Assume NM = 12,000,000
Ford Excursion
Curb weight = 6300 lb
1
dF
consumption per passage
NF
Assume NF = 200,000
Standard Vehicle
1
dS
consumption per passage
NS
Assume NF = 1,000,000
Mazda Equivalency Factor
dM 1 NM NS
FM
dS 1 NS NM
1,000,000
0.083
FM
12,000,000
Ford Equivalency Factor
dF 1 NF NS
FF
dS 1 NS N F
1,000,000
5.0
FF
200,000
MECHANISTIC METHOD
Pavement Life (Fatigue)
N f a1 E
Asphalt
Fatigue
Life
a2
Asphalt
Elastic
Modulus
a3
Asphalt
Tensile
Strain
LEF (Fatigue)
N s a1E
LEFi
N i a1E a2 t
a2
s a3
t
i a3
3 a3 6
i
t
s
t
a3
Pavement Life (Rutting)
N f a4 c
Subgrade
Fatigue
Life
a5
Subgrade
Compressive
Strain
LEF (Rutting)
N s a4
LEFi
N i a4 c
s a5
c
i a5
3.5 a5 4.5
i
c
s
c
a5
Pavement Life (Rigid)
Concrete
Tensile Strain
N f 225,000
MOR
Concrete
Modulus of
Rupture
LEF (Rigid)
N s MOR
LEFi
4
N i it MOR
s
t
i
t
s
t
LEF Summary
Measured
Axle Load
Li
LEFi
L18
i
t
s
t
i
t
s
t
i
c
s
c
18-kip
Standard
Axle Load
AASHTO METHOD
Pavement Performance
pi
W
p p i pi p f
failure
pf
Pavement Performance
pi
failure
pf
(failure)
Pavement Performance
W
p pi pi p f
x
pi
pf
failure
Pavement Performance
Wt x
p t p i pi p f
pi
x
p
Serviceability Limit
pt
pf
failure
Wt
Flexible Pavement Performance
Wt x
p t 4.2 4.2 1.5
4.2
x
p
Serviceability Limit
pt
1.5
failure
Wt
Flexible Pavement Performance
Wt x
p t 4.2 4.2 1.5
0.081 Lx L2
x 0.4
5.19
SN 1 L23.23
3.23
10
SN 1 L2
4.79
Lx L2
5.93
9.36
4.33
Flexible Pavement Performance
Wt x
p t 4.2 4.2 1.5
Wt x f p t , x , x
AASHTO LEF
N s Wt18 f pt , 18 , 18
LEF
N x Wtx
f pt , x , x
Flexible Pavement Performance
Wt x
p t 4.2 4.2 1.5
x
4.2 p t Wt x
4.2 1.5 x
4.2 p t
Wt x
log10
x log10
1.5
4.2
x
Gt
Pavement Performance
Wt x
G t x log10
x
Gt
log10 Wtx log10 x
log10 Wt x log10 x
Gt
Pavement Performance
log10 Wtx log10 x
10
log10 Wt x
10
log10 x
Gt
Wt x x10 x
Gt
Gt
x
x
AASHTO LEF
LEF
Wt18
Wtx
1810
x10
Gt
Gt
18
x
18
10
x
LEF ex EALF
Gt Gt
18 x
AASHTO LEF
This is the equation in the textbook
Wt x
Gt Gt
log
log x log 18
x 18
Wt18
e not e
NOTE : this is log 1
Rigid Pavement Performance
Wt x
p t 4.5 4.5 1.5
x
3.63 Lx L2
x 1.0
8.46
D 1 L23.52
5.20
10
5.85
D 1
7.35
Lx L2
L2
4.62
3.28
Rigid Pavement Performance
Wt x
p t 4.5 4.5 1.5
x
4.5 p t Wt x
4.5 1.5 x
4.5 p t
Wt x
log10
x log10
5 1.
5
4.
x
Gt
TRUCK LOAD FACTORS
Equivalent Single Axle Loads
12,000
32,000
ESAL = ??
32,000
AASHTO Equivalency Factors
Equivalent Single Axle Loads
0.189
0.857
ESAL = 1.903
0.857
Axle Load Histogram
600
500
Frequency
400
300
200
100
0
3000-6999 7000-7999
800011999
1200015999
1600017999
1800019999
Single Axle Load (lbs)
2000021999
2200023999
2400025999
2600029999
Axle Load Histogram
250
Frequency
200
150
100
50
0
600011999
1200017999
1800023999
2400029999
3000031999
3200033999
Tandem Axle Load (lbs)
3400035999
3600037999
3800039999
4000041999
Single Axles
Load Group
(lbs)
Axle Count
per 1000 trucks
LEF
ESALs
3000-6999
557
0.005
2.79
7000-7999
140
0.027
3.78
8000-11999
493
0.088
43.38
12000-15999
154
0.360
55.44
16000-17999
75
0.796
59.70
18000-19999
33
1.24
40.9
20000-21999
1.83
9.15
22000-23999
2.58
5.16
24000-25999
3.53
3.53
26000-29999
5.39
5.39
TOTAL =
229.2
Tandem Axles
Load Group
(kips)
Axle Count
per 1000 trucks
LEF
ESALs
6000-11999
227
0.010
2.3
12000-17999
162
0.037
6.0
18000-23999
108
0.150
16.2
24000-29999
140
0.429
60.1
30000-31999
58
0.757
43.9
32000-33999
25
0.97
24.3
34000-35999
1.23
7.4
36000-37999
1.54
4.6
38000-39999
1.89
1.9
40000-41999
2.29
2.3
TOTAL =
169.0
Average Truck Load Factor
ESALs 229 169
Tf
0.40
Vehicles
1000
FHWA Truck Classes
FHWA Class 4
Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM
FHWA Class 5
Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM
FHWA Class 6
FHWA Class 7
FHWA Class 8
Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM
FHWA Class 9
Source: images.encarta.msn.com
FHWA Class 10
Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM
FHWA Truck Classes
Class
Type
EALF
Motorcycles
negligible
Passenger Cars
negligible
Other Two-Axle, Four-Tire Single Unit Vehicles
negligible
Buses
0.57
Two-Axle, Six-Tire, Single Unit Trucks
0.26
Three-Axle Single Unit Trucks
0.42
Four or More Axle Single Unit Trucks
0.42
Four or Less Axle Single Trailer Trucks
0.30
Five-Axle Single Trailer Trucks
1.20
10
Six or More Axle Single Trailer Trucks
0.93
11
Five or Less Axle Multi-Trailer Trucks
0.82
12
Six-Axle Multi-Trailer Trucks
1.06
13
Seven or More Axle Multi-Trailer Trucks
1.39
Typical Traffic Data
Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM
WSDOT Simplified System
WSDOT Category
FHWA Classes
Assumed EALF
Single Units
4, 5, 6, 7
0.40
Double Units
8, 9, 10
1.00
Trains
11, 12, 13
1.75
Daily ESALs = 0.40(single units) + 1.00(double units) + 1.75(trains)
Source: WSDOT Pavement Guide Interactive CD-ROM
TDOT Simplified System
Vehicle
Type
FHWA
Class
Flexible
EALF
Rigid
EALF
Cars & Motorcycles
1, 2
0.001
0.001
Pickups, Panel Vans
0.004
0.005
Buses
0.300
0.300
2-axle, 6-tire Singles
0.170
0.170
3-axle or more Singles
6, 7
0.700
1.000
4-axle Combos
0.700
0.780
5-axle or more Combos
9 -11
1.100
1.780
Design ESALS
Average
Daily Traffic
(two-way)
Truck Load
Factor
Lane
Distribution
Factor
ESAL 365 ADT T Tf D L G
Percent
Trucks
Direction
Distribution
Factor
Growth
Factor
Design ESALS
Truck Load
Factor
Lane
Distribution
Factor
ESAL 365 ADT T Tf D L G
Average
Daily Truck
Traffic
Direction
Distribution
Factor
Growth
Factor
Design ESALS
Direction
Distribution
Factor
Truck
Load
Factor
ESAL 365 L D Nm Tm Gm
i1
Lane
Distribution
Factor
Daily
Truck Count
(two-way)
Growth
Factor
Traffic Growth
COMPARISON OF GROWTH IN VOLUME AND
LOADINGS ON THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM
PERCENT GROWTH (3-YEAR MOVING AVERAGE)
700
600
RURAL
AVERAGE DAILY
LOAD
500
400
300
RURAL
AVERAGE DAILY
TRAFFIC
200
100
0
70
72
74
76
Source: Truck Weight Study and HPMS
78
80
82
84
YEAR
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
00
02
Growth Factor
1 g 1
n
for g 0
Lane Distribution Factors
Number of Lanes
in Each Direction
Percent of Loads
in Design Lane
100
80-100
60-80
50-75
