Flexible Pavement Design Spreadsheet: F806FAA.

xls
This spreadsheet was designed to produce flexible pavement design thickness' in accordance
with FAA Advisory Circular AC 150/5320-6D, Airport Pavement Design and Evaluation.
The spreadsheet breaks the design process into 10 steps and is designed to prompt the user for
design input parameters during each step. It is important to complete the design by following the
individual steps in numerical order. Since thickness computations are based upon values
gathered during each step, completion of the steps in numerical order assures that the proper
values are assigned for the respective variables. Once all steps have been completed, the user
may go back and modify the input values of any step, then skip directly to step 10 to see the
results of the variable change.

STEP 1. General Airport/Project Information

STEP 2. Subgrade CBR
STEP 3. Number of Subbases
STEP 4. Default Aggreate Base Material
STEP 5. Frost Penetration
STEP 6. Enter Aircraft Data
STEP 7. Find Required Thickness for Each Aircraft
STEP 8. Accept Critical Aircraft
STEP 9. Compute for Stabilized Layers
STEP 10. Go to Design Summary

STEP 1. General Information

Provides general project data which is
displayed with the design summary.

This information is optional and does not

affect numerical calculations.
Return to Top

STEP 2. Subgrade CBR

Enter the subgrade CBR value as defined
in paragraph 315 of AC 150/5320-6D.
High values of CBR (i.e. >20) may not be
appropriate for this design method.
Thickness results from high CBR
subgrade layers may appear incorrect as
the program will default to minimum
thickness requirements as identified in
150/5320-6D. Designs performed with high subgrade CBR values may indicate negative
subbase layer thickness.
Remember that the CBR design method requires that each layer be an improvement over the
layer directly beneath, i.e. the subbase layer CBR must be higher than the subgrade CBR.
Each time the user activates Step 2, the default value in the pop up box will be a CBR of 5.
Simply re-enter the desired CBR value and click OK.
If frost consideration is appropriate, the
spreadsheet calculates the pavement thickness
necessary for a Reduced Subgrade Strength in
accordance with paragraph 308 of AC 150/53206D.
NOTE: The Reduced Subgrade Support method
is not permitted for FG-4 soils with the publication
of AC 150/5320-6D
If the user wishes to verify designs produce under
AC 150/5320-6C, they may do so by manually
reducing the subgrade CBR and selecting Non
Frost Conditions.

STEP 3. Number of Subbases

Determine the number of subbase
layers to be included in the design.
The spreadsheet can design for a
maximum of 3 subbase layers,
however, most design requirements
do not need the additional layers to
provide sufficient pavement
strength.

A design with multiple subbase layers tends to over-design the lower layers and under-design the
upper layers. This is because the methodology is to determine the total thickness required over
the subgrade material then subtract the thickness required over the first improved layer. The
thickness of subsequent layers is subtracted from the remaining thickness. For example if a total
thickness of 35 inches is required over the subgrade and a thickness of 15 inches is required over
a subbase of CBR=20, then the subbase layer would be 35-15= 20 inches thick. This only leaves
15 inches to be distributed to any remaining layers.
Due to construction practicalities
and cost feasibility, most typical
designs only incorporate one
subbase layer.
Enter the CBR value for the
subbase material
The user is remined that AC
150/5320-6D assumes a CBR of
20 for Item P-154.

Select the Frost Code for the subbase material

Repeat for each subbase layer selected.
See the figure in the program for order of subbases (#1 is
the top most layer)
Subbase layers must increase in strength as you move up in
the pavement structure.

STEP 4. Default Aggregate Base Material

Item P209 is the default material for
granular base. It is assumed that P209 material can achieve a minimum
CBR value greater than 80. This
default value cannot be altered in the
spreadsheet.
Others base materials, when
permitted, will increase the asphalt
surface course minimum thickness. If
Item P-209 is not the default base
material, the minimum thickness of the
surface asphalt layer is automatically
increased to 5 inches.
Item P-208 is permitted when aircraft
are not expected to exceed a gross
weight of 60,000 pounds.

STEP 5. Frost Penetration

Enter the degree days F/day and
subgrade unit weight lb/ft
This is an optional step and does not
affect pavement thickness
calculations. The user should
compare the frost depth to the
required protection depth.
Computation of the frost depth is not
necessary when the pavement design
is based upon the Reduced Subgrade
support method of frost design.

Frost depth information is in tabular form as provided by the Corp of Engineers in 1986. Frost
depth values are simple interpolations of the tabular data.
Frost Penetration (Inches)
Soil Unit Weight lb/cf
Degree Days

100

115

125

150

200
400
600
800
1000
2000
3000
4000
4500

20.5
27.5
34
40
45
69.5
92
115
125

21.5
30.5
38
44.5
51
79
105
130
145

23.8
35
44.5
54
62
102
140
177
197

25.5
38.5
49
59
69
113
156
205
225

STEP 6. Enter Aircraft Data

Selection of Aircraft is limited to aircraft types identified in the original FORTRAN program.
The Spreadsheet is limited to a mixture of 21 individual aircraft. The user may select any
combination of aircraft. Aircraft types may be repeated.
The user can assign a local name to an aircraft for ease of identification. Local names can be
entered directly into the spreadsheet. This is particularly useful when numerous aircraft are from
a common gear configuration but vary in weight.
The program will prompt the user for aircraft weight and annual operations. Since each gear type
is based upon a reasonable anticipated weight for the gear configuration, the program will limit
the permissible weight range. If desired, the user may over-write these values directly in the
spreadsheet. The user is cautioned to observe the weight limitations and select gear
configurations appropriately. Greater thickness requirements will result from overloading a small
gear versus under loading a larger gear. For example, a dual wheel aircraft weighing 125,000
pounds could be input as a DUAL100 or a DUAL150 aircraft.

STEP 7. Find Required Thickness For Each Aircraft

Step 7 finds and displays the required pavement thickness for each aircraft in the mixture and
determines the most demanding (critical) aircraft.
This step is provided for the user's information and may be skipped as it is repeated by step 8.
This step is particularly useful when analyzing the impact of one design variable. Suppose the
user wants to see the impact of increasing weight while keeping annual departures constant. By
entering the same aircraft multiple times and varying the weight, the user can immediately see
the change in thickness required for each change in weight. Likewise, any variable can be
changed while holding other variables constant.

STEP 8. Accept Critical Aircraft

Repeats step 7 and performs final calculations
Returns the user to the main screen

STEP 9. Compute for Stabilized Layers

This step allows the user to specify
equivalency factors for stabilized layers.
Acceptable equivalency factor ranges are
provided.
Conversions are restricted to the base and
the first subbase layer. Within the
program, conversions are for the entire
layer. The user may elect to make partial
conversions by hand.
Conversion factors have limited ranges in
accordance with AC 150/53320-6D.

STEP 10. Go To Design Summary

Repeats design calculations (step 8) and takes the user to the summary sheet.
All information regarding the design is displayed on the summary sheet.
The summary display is dynamic and will change depending upon design features. e.g. if a
stabilized base is required, a note will appear on the summary sheet to indicate the requirement.

From the summary sheet, the user is permitted to print the summary and/or the aircraft mix.
The user may also elect to view a plot of annual departures versus required total thickness or a
plot of CBR versus required total thickness for the design aircraft. These plots provide an
indication of how sensitive the design is to changes in CBR or annual departures.