Live Workshop
Road Design
Flexible Pavement Design
Learn how to calculate design traffic from traffic data, heavy vehicle loading and growth, then use subgrade strength and material properties to determine pavement thickness and develop a practical, structurally checked flexible pavement design.
About
This workshop is designed to help civil engineers, designers and technical reviewers develop a practical understanding of design traffic and the empirical design of flexible granular pavements with thin bituminous surfacing.
Participants will first learn how to interpret traffic information and estimate the cumulative pavement damage caused by heavy vehicles. Topics include heavy vehicle loading, axle group configurations, design period, design lane, traffic distribution, traffic growth and the calculation of a design traffic value.
The workshop then applies the calculated design traffic value to flexible pavement thickness design. Participants will learn how to:
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Confirm when the empirical pavement design method is applicable
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Determine a representative design subgrade CBR
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Assess pavement materials for structural performance, specification compliance and constructability
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Calculate overall pavement thickness
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Develop a trial base, subbase and lower subbase composition
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Check the structural cover provided above each pavement material
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Convert theoretical thicknesses into practical, constructible layers
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Identify assumptions, uncertainties and potential design risks
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Complete and review pavement design calculations and make informed, defensible technical decisions
Through concise lessons, worked examples and practical activities, the workshop provides a structured process that can be applied directly to day-to-day engineering work and project delivery.
Details
Date
Location
Format
Cost
Code
Cohort 1
Tuesday 11 Aug 2026
9:00am to 12:00pm AEST
Tuesday 18 Aug 2026
9:00am to 12:00pm AEST
Cohort 2
Thursday 13 Aug 2026
9:00am to 12:00pm AEST
Thursday 20 Aug 2026
9:00am to 12:00pm AEST
Online via Microsoft Teams
2 x 3-hour sessions
6 hours CPD
Course materials
Design spreadsheets
AUD $660 incl. GST
rd-pav-01-ws
Sound familiar?
How do I turn traffic data into a design traffic value I can actually use?
When should I use a standard council pavement and when should I complete a project-specific design?
These are common questions we work through during the workshop.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
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Explain how traffic loading, subgrade support, pavement materials and layer configuration influence flexible pavement performance
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Select an appropriate design period and identify the design lane
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Estimate the initial daily heavy vehicles within the design lane
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Calculate cumulative heavy vehicles and heavy vehicle axle groups over the design period
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Apply traffic load distribution and axle group damage relationships to calculate design traffic in DESA
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Confirm when the empirical design method is applicable to a granular pavement with thin bituminous surfacing
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Determine a representative design subgrade CBR based on available information, expected moisture conditions, variability and potential weak layers
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Assess pavement materials for structural suitability, specification compliance and constructability
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Determine the required overall pavement thickness and develop a trial base, subbase and lower subbase composition
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Check that adequate structural cover is provided above each pavement material
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Convert theoretical thickness requirements into practical and constructible pavement layers
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Identify assumptions, uncertainties and design risks when completing or reviewing pavement calculations
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Make informed and defensible decisions when designing, reviewing or approving flexible pavement designs.
Agenda
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Pavement Loading and Design Traffic Fundamentals
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Heavy Vehicle Axle Groups and Load Configurations
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The Design Traffic Calculation Procedure
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Design Period and Design Lane Selection
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Equivalent Standard Axles and Pavement Damage
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Calculating Design Traffic in DESA
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Flexible Pavement Structure
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The Empirical Design Method
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Design Subgrade Strength
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Pavement Material Selection
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Calculating Overall Pavement Thickness from Design Traffic
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Individual Pavement Layer Design
Recommended Prior Knowledge
This workshop is suitable for engineers, designers, students and other technical professionals with a basic understanding of mathematics and engineering concepts.
Familiarity with basic road design, traffic and pavement terminology will be helpful but is not mandatory. Prior experience completing design traffic or flexible pavement thickness calculations is not required, as these are covered during the workshop.
Workshop Facilitator
Sean Quilty
MIEAust CPEng NER RPEQ MEngPrac BEngTech
Sean is a civil engineer and educator with more than 20 years of industry experience across civil infrastructure, land development, stormwater management, road design, mining and multidisciplinary project delivery. Sean has more than 10 years of teaching experience and has trained engineers, designers and technical professionals across Australia.
Sean’s teaching focuses on practical application, first-principles understanding and engineering judgement, helping participants build capability they can apply directly to real projects.
Register for this Workshop
Complete the form below to register yourself or multiple participants for this workshop. An invoice will be issued by email, and places will be confirmed once payment is received.