Pavement Design Services
Atlas Engineering and Technology Group (AETG) offers extensive pavement design expertise to projects throughout Sydney. Our skilled geotechnical engineering team implements proven methodologies and strategies to ensure durable, budget-conscious pavement solutions across various applications.
Understanding Pavement Fundamentals
Pavements serve two critical functions:
- Structural Performance: The pavement must be sufficiently thick and of good material quality to withstand heavy vehicle loads and distribute them to the underlying soil.
- Functional Performance - The pavement must provide good riding quality, adequate drainage, skid resistance, and safety features for road users.
Types of Pavements We Design
Flexible Pavements
Flexible pavements include unbound granular materials, stabilised materials, and/or asphalt layers. They distribute loads through inter-particle friction and can be constructed in stages. Common types include:
- Unbound granular pavements with thin bituminous seals
- Bound (stabilised) pavements
- Full-depth asphalt pavements
Rigid Pavements
Rigid pavements consist of high-strength concrete bases with various subbase materials. They distribute loads through slab action and include:
- Joined unreinforced concrete
- Jointed reinforced concrete
- Continuously reinforced concrete
- Steel fibre reinforced concrete
Our Pavement Design Process
Our comprehensive approach includes:
- Site Investigation - Thorough assessment of subgrade conditions through field testing and sampling
- Traffic Analysis - Determination of design traffic loads and volumes
- Material Selection - Identification of appropriate materials based on availability and performance requirements
- Structural Design - Calculation of layer thicknesses using industry-standard software (CIRCLY and ELMOD)
- Drainage Design - Integration of appropriate drainage solutions to protect pavement integrity
- Construction Specifications - Development of detailed construction guidelines
Testing Capabilities
We offer a full range of pavement testing services:
- Fast Falling Weight Deflectometer (FFWD) testing
- Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) testing
- Benkelman Beam testing
- Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing
- Field density testing
- Material sampling and laboratory analysis
Our Pavement Design Capabilities
Our pavement design expertise extends to:
- Residential roads and subdivisions
- Industrial hardstand areas
- Highways and freeways
- Car parks and commercial developments
- Port and airport pavements
- Heavy-duty industrial pavements
Rehabilitation Services
For existing pavements, we provide:
- Condition assessment and residual life estimation
- Rehabilitation design options
- Overlay design
- Reconstruction recommendations
- Cost-benefit analysis of repair strategies
Why Choose AETG for Pavement Design
- Experienced engineers with local knowledge
- Practical approach and sound engineering judgment
- Use of the latest innovative techniques and materials
- Cost-effective solutions that reduce construction time and costs
- Comprehensive service from investigation through construction supervision
Successfully Completed Jobs by AETG to Date
✔ Proposed Pavement Construction - Frenchs Forest Road East, Frenchs Forest NSW
The Preliminary Pavement Design Report prepared by AETG for the proposed accessway at Frenchs Forest Road East, Frenchs Forest, focuses on a rigid pavement solution suitable for anticipated heavy and light vehicle traffic. Based on geotechnical investigations, the subgrade was classified as medium to high plasticity silty clay with a very stiff to hard consistency, and a design subgrade CBR value of 4% was adopted. Traffic estimates indicated usage by Heavy Rigid (HR) and Heavy Combination (HC) vehicles up to three times per week, with pavement design guided by Austroads AGPT02-24 standards and TfNSW specifications. The final rigid pavement design includes a 220 mm thick Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavement (JRCP) over a 150 mm lean mix concrete subbase. Design parameters incorporated a 90% reliability factor, subgrade proof-rolling requirements, mandatory subsoil drainage installations, and detailed reinforcement using SL82 mesh. Additional recommendations include proper subgrade preparation, joint sealing to prevent moisture ingress, and stringent construction under dry weather conditions to maintain long-term structural performance.
✔ Preliminary Pavement Design - Coal Pier Road, Banksweadow NSW
The Preliminary Pavement Design Report for Coal Pier Road, Banksmeadow prepared by AETG, provides a flexible pavement design tailored for an industrial access road intended to accommodate heavy container stackers and transport trailers. The design is based on geotechnical investigation results, including borehole drilling, Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing, and laboratory California Bearing Ratio (CBR) testing, which revealed subgrade conditions consisting of sandy gravel and marine sand with CBR values ranging from 30% to 60%. The pavement structure was designed using the mechanistic method outlined in Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology – Part 2, assuming an Equivalent Standard Axle (ESA) loading corresponding to the site’s heavy vehicle traffic over a 20-year design life. The adopted pavement configuration consists of a 50 mm AC10 asphaltic concrete wearing course, 150 mm AC14 structural asphalt layer, and 200 mm AC20 base layer, placed over a bitumen emulsion seal and compacted subgrade. The report emphasises proper proof rolling after excavation, appropriate moisture control during construction, installation of perimeter joint seals, and implementation of effective surface drainage to ensure long-term performance and minimise maintenance requirements.