Pavement Topics

• Standards
• Plans and Specifications
• Types
  • Flexible
  • Rigid
  • Composite
• Best Practices
  • Smoother Pavements
  • Quieter Pavements
  • Surface Drainage
• Sublayers
• Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
• Environment & Traffic
  • Climate
  • Traffic

Quick Links

Flexible Pavement

Common types of flexible pavement include hot mix asphalt (HMA), rubberized hot mix asphalt-gap graded (RHMA-G), and open graded friction course (OGFC). There are also two types of rubberized OGFC mixes: rubberized hot mix asphalt-open graded (RHMA-O) and RHMA-O-high-binder (RHMA-O-HB).

The engineering design of flexible pavement structures is not an exact science. It is not possible to formulate one set of design criteria that could meet the requirements of every road everywhere. Traffic conditions, climate, geology, materials, construction, and economics are variables that demand the fullest application of professional engineering judgment and skills.

Flexible Pavement Standards

• California Highway Design Manual (HDM): Chapter 630 - Flexible Pavement (PDF, 475KB)
  • CT 356: Methods of Test to Obtain Flexible Pavement Deflection Measurements for Determining Pavement Rehabilitation Requirements (PDF, 275KB)
• DIB 79-03: Design Guide and Standards for Roadway Rehabilitation Projects
• DIB 81: Capital Preventive Maintenance (CAPM) Guidelines (PDF, 774KB)
• DIB 86: Selecting Asphalt Binder Type has been incorporated into the July 1, 2008 udated edition of the HDM and the DIB 86 has been discontinued.

Flexible Pavement Guidance

General

• Guidelines for Identifying and Repairing Localized Areas of Distress in Asphalt Concrete Pavements Prior to Capital Preventive Maintenance or Rehabilitation Repairs (PDF, 540KB)
• Pavement Tapers & Transitions (Interim) (PDF, 160KB)
• Shoulder Backing Guidelines (PDF, 220KB)
• Paving over Existing Striping, Markings, and Pavement Markers (PDF, 15KB)

Rubberized Hot Mix Asphalt (RHMA)

• Asphalt Rubber Usage Guide (PDF, 2.3MB)
• RHMA Research
  • Synthesis of Caltrans RAC Projects (PDF, 364KB)

Open Graded Friction Course (OGFC)

• Open Graded Friction Course Usage Guidelines (PDF, 440KB)

Preservation and Maintenance

• Maintenance Technical Advisory Guide
• Flexible Roadbed Maintenance Repairs ("A" Family) (PDF, 80KB)
• Pavement Tapers & Transitions (Interim) (PDF, 160KB)
• Shoulder Backing Guidelines (PDF, 220KB)
• Sealing over Existing Striping, Markings, and Pavement Markers (PDF, 16KB)

Recycling

• Hot In-Place Recycling (HIPR)
• Cold In-Place Recycling (CIPR)
  • Interim Report - Construction Completion for Cold-In-Place Recycling (PDF, 3.3MB)
• Full Depth Reclamation (FDR)
  • Cold Foam In-Place Recycling (CFIPR)
  • Pulverization
  • Guide for Flexible Pavement Rehabilitation using Pulverization (June 2008), (PDF 1.7 MB)
• Resource Conservation
  • Use of Scrap Tire Rubber (PDF, 847KB)
  • Feasibility of Recycling Rubber-Modified Paving Materials (PDF, 281KB)

 

Flexible Pavement Design Examples

• New Construction/Reconstruction (PDF, 440KB) | Metric (PDF, 460KB)
• Rehabilitation (PDF, 270KB)

Flexible Pavement Materials

• Rubberized Hot Mix Asphalt (RHMA) Research
• Performance Graded (PG) Binders

Flexible Pavement Cost Estimating and Planning

• Alternative Procedure to Estimate Flexible Pavement Rehabilitation Requirements for Project Scoping (DOC, 50KB)
  • Implementation Memorandum (PDF, 90KB, 11/17/2006)
• Rubberized Hot Mix Asphalt (RHMA) Research

Flexible Pavement Research

• Interim Report - Construction Completion for Cold-In-Place Recycling (PDF, 3.3MB)
• Final Completion Report - Cold Foam In Place Reclamation (PDF, 4.5MB)
• RHMA Research
  • Synthesis of Caltrans RAC Projects (PDF, 364KB)

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Please forward any questions/comments/suggestions to Hector Vergara (hector_vergara@dot.ca.gov). Last updated 08/04/2008.