5. General information on the French approach to pavement design

In 1971 that the French Road Directorate chose the formula of a catalog of pre-calculated, experience-proven structures to guide departments in the choice of pavement structures for the national road network, thus freeing them from calculation tasks. This principle was subsequently maintained, right up to the most recent edition of the structures catalog, dated 1998. It has also been adopted by many other countries.

It is worth recalling the opinion of its promoters on this subject, as set out in the article in the September-October 1972 liaison bulletin cited in the bibliography.