Design and Construction of Flexible Pavement Using CBR Method: A Case Study

Abstract

Flexible pavements play a crucial role in modern transportation infrastructure due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of construction, and maintenance advantages. This study presents the design and construction methodology of a two-lane flexible pavement using the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) method in accordance with IRC:37-2012 guidelines. The work includes soil testing, traffic analysis, material selection, and layer thickness design. Laboratory tests such as Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, Free Swell Index, and CBR were conducted to evaluate subgrade properties. Based on the obtained CBR value of 14.36%, suitable pavement layer thicknesses were determined. The study demonstrates the practical implementation of IRC guidelines and highlights the importance of proper material selection, compaction, and drainage for long-term pavement performance.

Introduction

The text explains the design and construction of flexible pavements, which are widely used in highways due to their cost-effectiveness and adaptability. These pavements consist of multiple layers (subgrade, GSB, WMM, DBM, and BC) that distribute traffic loads efficiently. The design is based on traffic and soil strength, commonly using the CBR method as per IRC:37-2012 guidelines.

The study includes traffic analysis, soil testing, and laboratory experiments such as liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, free swell index, and CBR test. The soil showed a CBR value of 14.36%, indicating good strength for pavement construction.

Based on this, a suitable pavement structure was designed with specified layer thicknesses. Proper construction procedures and equipment like excavators, rollers, and pavers are used to ensure quality work.

The results highlight that correct material selection, proper compaction, and drainage improve pavement durability and performance. Overall, the study confirms that the designed flexible pavement is stable, efficient, and meets standard guidelines for long-term use.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the design and construction of flexible pavement using the CBR method. The results show that: CBR method is effective and practical for pavement design Proper material selection and testing are essential IRC guidelines ensure safe and durable pavement design Quality construction practices improve pavement performance Flexible pavement remains a sustainable and economical solution for road infrastructure, especially in developing regions.

References

[1] IRC:37-2012, \"Guidelines for the Design of Flexible Pavements,\" Indian Roads Congress, New Delhi. [2] Khanna, S.K. and Justo, C.E.G., Highway Engineering, Nem Chand & Bros. [3] K.R. Arora, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Standard Publishers. [4] B.C. Punmia, Soil Mechanics and Foundations, Laxmi Publications. [5] D.S.V. Prasad and G.V.R. Prasada Raju, \"Performance of Flexible Pavement on Expansive Soil,\" Journal of Civil Engineering

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Rohit Singh Tomar, Shubham Singh Tomar, Aditya Gautam, Vinay Sharma. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.