Silva Cell: Engineering

Everything you need to know about Silva Cells’ sizing details, material specifications, loading capacity, and more.

Material Specifications & Testing

Deck: fiberglass reinforced, chemically-coupled, impact modified polypropylene.
Post and base: homopolymer polypropylene.

Proof-load tested and FEA analysis completed at an independent facility. Download the detailed engineering report (USA, Canada, United Kingdom).

The Silva Cell is a product, but it is also a system. Each installation site has its own unique attributes – soil, tree species, hydrology, climate, and more – that influence how it is incorporated and how it will perform. From early on in the design phases, every component of the site should be considered thoughtfully within the context of this system

For engineers who want to begin using this system, visit our Getting Started section. Our team of technical experts is available to provide assistance throughout this process.

Information on the following is available by request. Please contact us for details.

Curb setbacks
Lateral loading
Dynamic loading
Geogrids & geotextiles

Drainage & water issues
Repairs & maintenance
Utilities

Loading & Engineering

Independent lab testing and engineering analysis shows that Silva Cell 2, when installed per manufacturer’s specifications, meets or exceeds most loading requirements and safety factor, including AASHTO H/HS-20 (US), BS EN 1991-1-1:2002 (UK) and standards for tire contact surface area equal to 250 mm x 600 mm (Canada).

US
UK
CANADA

AASHTO H-20

– 32,000 lbs maximum per axle

– 16,000 lbs maximum per wheel

– Tire contact area is 14.25″ radius

AASHTO HS-20

– 32,000 lbs maximum per axle

– 16,000 lbs maximum per wheel

– Tire contact area is 10″x 20″ rectangle

ULIMATE WHEEL LOAD BY STANDARD PAVEMENT TYPE

The table below provides the maximum load that can be on any single wheel (tire), or per axle, for a given pavement section, assuming tires have a contact area equal to either the AASHTO H-20 standard of a 14.25″ radius or the AASHTO HS-20 standard of a 10″x 20″ rectangle. For more details, please refer to the Silva Cell 2 Engineering Report and Testing Conclusions.

Silva Cell System Type	Traffic Loading Standard	Pavers
		3.15″ pavers 1″ sand base 12″ of aggregate
		Wheel	Axle
1X	H-20	30,200 lbs	60,400 lbs
1X	HS-20	31,800 lbs	63,600 lbs
2X	H-20	33,200 lbs	66,400 lbs
2X	HS-20	34,900 lbs	69,800 lbs
3X	H-20	28,200 lbs	56,400 lbs
3X	HS-20	29,700 lbs	59,400 lbs

Silva Cell System Type	Traffic Loading Standard	Asphalt
		4″ of asphalt 12″ of aggregate
		Wheel	Axle
1X	H-20	40,600 lbs	93,200 lbs
1X	HS-20	48,700 lbs	97,400 lbs
2X	H-20	51,200 lbs	102,400 lbs
2X	HS-20	53,500 lbs	107,000 lbs
3X	H-20	43,500 lbs	87,000 lbs
3X	HS-20	45,500 lbs	91,000 lbs

Silva Cell System Type	Traffic Loading Standard	Concrete
		4″ of asphalt 4″ of aggregate
		Wheel	Axle
1X	H-20	34,900 lbs	69,800 lbs
1X	HS-20	35,900 lbs	71,800 lbs
2X	H-20	38,300 lbs	76,600 lbs
2X	HS-20	39,500 lbs	79,000 lbs
3X	H-20	32,600 lbs	65,200 lbs
3X	HS-20	33,600 lbs	67,200 lbs

Silva Cell System Type	Traffic Loading Standard	Pavers with Concrete
		2.36″ pavers 5″ concrete
		Wheel	Axle
1X	H-20	38,600 lbs	77,200 lbs
1X	HS-20	41,100 lbs	82,200 lbs
2X	H-20	42,200 lbs	84,800 lbs
2X	HS-20	45,200 lbs	90,400 lbs
3X	H-20	36,000 lbs	72,000 lbs
3X	HS-20	38,400 lbs	76,800 lbs

Loading capacity can be adjusted based on section profile changes; the typical applications shown in the table above are the most commonly used. For more details, including information about lateral loading, please refer to the Silva Cell 2 Engineering Report and Testing Conclusions. For custom details and a review of your site-specific loading requirements, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BS EN 1991-1-1:2002

– 11,500 kg maximum per axle

– 5,750 kg maximum per wheel

– Tyre contact surface area is 200 x 200 mm

ULIMATE WHEEL LOAD BY STANDARD PAVEMENT TYPE

The table below provides the maximum load that can be on any single wheel (tyre), or per axle, for a given pavement section,

assuming tyres have a contact area equal to 200 mm x 200 mm as prescribed in the BS EN 1991-1-1:2002 including the UK annex,

category G (<160 kN gross vehicle weight, on 2 axles). For more details, including information about lateral loading, please refer to the

Silva Cell 2 Engineering Report and Testing Conclusions.

Silva Cell System Type	Pavers
	8 cm pavers 2.5 cm sand base 30 cm of aggregate
	Wheel	Axle
1X	121 kN	242 kN
	12,338 kg	24,676 kg
2X	133 kN	266 kN
	13,562 kg	27,124 kg
3X	113 kN	226 kN
	11,523 kg	23,046 kg

Silva Cell System Type	Asphalt
	10 cm of asphalt 30 cm of aggregate
	Wheel	Axle
1X	198 kN	396 kN
	20,190 kg	40,380 kg
2X	218 kN	436 kN
	22,229 kg	44,458 kg
3X	185 kN	370 kN
	18,864 kg	37,728 kg

Silva Cell System Type	Concrete
	10 cm of asphalt 10 cm of aggregate
	Wheel	Axle
1X	132 kN	264 kN
	13,460 kg	26,920 kg
2X	145 kN	290 kN
	14,786 kg	29,572 kg
3X	123 kN	246 kN
	12,542 kg	25,084 kg

Silva Cell System Type	Pavers with Concrete
	6 cm pavers 12.7 cm concrete
	Wheel	Axle
1X	150 kN	300 kN
	15,296 kg	10,592 kg
2X	165 kN	330 kN
	16,825 kg	33,650 kg
3X	140 kN	280 kN
	14,276 kg	28,552 kg

– 175 kN maximum per axle

– 87.5 kN maximum per wheel

– Tire contact surface area is 250 x 600 mm

ULIMATE WHEEL LOAD BY STANDARD PAVEMENT TYPE

The table below provides the maximum load that can be on any single wheel (tire), or per axle, for a given pavement section, assuming tires have a contact area equal to 250 mm x 600 mm. For more details, including information about lateral loading, please refer to the Silva Cell 2 Engineering Report and Testing Conclusions.

Silva Cell System Type	Pavers
	8 cm pavers 2.5 cm sand base 30 cm of aggregate
	Wheel	Axle
1X	147 kN	294 kN
	33,100 lbs	66,200 lbs
2X	162 kN	324 kN
	36,400 lbs	72,800 lbs
3X	137 kN	274 kN
	30,900 lbs	61,800 lbs

Silva Cell System Type	Asphalt
	10 cm of asphalt 30 cm of aggregate
	Wheel	Axle
1X	225 kN	450 kN
	50,500 lbs	101,000 lbs
2X	247 kN	494 kN
	55,500 lbs	111,000 lbs
3X	210 kN	420 kN
	47,200 lbs	94,400 lbs

Silva Cell System Type	Concrete
	10 cm of asphalt 10 cm of aggregate
	Wheel	Axle
1X	165 kN	330 kN
	37,000 lbs	74,000 lbs
2X	181 kN	362 kN
	40,700 lbs	81,400 lbs
3X	154 kN	308 kN
	34,600 lbs	69,200 lbs

Silva Cell System Type	Pavers with Concrete
	6 cm pavers 12.7 cm concrete
	Wheel	Axle
1X	184 kN	368 kN
	41,400 lbs	82,800 lbs
2X	202 kN	404 kN
	45,500 lbs	91,000 lbs
3X	172 kN	344 kN
	38,700 lbs	77,400 lbs