Course Description

This course outlines pavement design of roads. All three accepted methods of pavement design are covered, including Soil Factor, R-value thickness, and an introduction to MnPAVE for thickness design. design guide will be used to review the importance of and tools for the following elements of roadway design: data collection and accurate traffic projections; subgrade soil evaluation and best practices for enhancements; pavement section materials and specifications; and best construction practices and their effect on pavement life.

Course Objective

• Review soil factor and R-value thickness design
• Introduction to MnPAVE for thickness design (including practical exercises)
• Review subgrade soil evaluation and best construction practices
• Overview subgrade soil enhancement practices in Minnesota
• Review pavement section materials and best construction practices

Course Outline

• types of road pavement
• soil characteristics
• pavement layers
• traffic loads
• design of asphalt mixes using Marshall design method
• Stresses in flexible pavement
• Design of flexible pavement using AASHTO design method
• Performance based tests of asphalt pavement