Analytical design of flexible pavements

Basic inputs required for pavement thickness design include some measure of subgrade strength, the range in climatic conditions, the characteristics of available materials and an estimate of cumulative traffic loading. Selection of the most economic combination of layer materials and thicknesses requires evaluation of various design strategies developed from consideration of a wide range of factors. Analysis of life-cycle costs and benefits provides a basis for comparing alternative strategies. However, the economic analysis is meaningful only if the design method used can predict accurately the performance of the alternative constructions being considered.