Base course design and cost comparison by bearing capacity
Naue Paved & UnpavedRoad – Bearing Capacity (SecuCalc) is a free online calculator in the Naue Portal DesignSuite that estimates the material and cost needed to raise the soil's bearing capacity to your project target. Using the bearing-capacity approach (either the EV2 plate-load-test modulus or CBR) it designs the required unbound base course and compares a conventional build-up against a geogrid-stabilised solution with Secugrid® and Combigrid®. For each aggregate type it shows the reinforced and unreinforced thickness, volume, mass and geogrid quantity, the material saved, and a cost comparison in Euro or British Pounds.
At a glance
What it is: a free online calculator in the Naue Portal DesignSuite (login required)
What it does: designs unbound base courses by bearing capacity (EV2 or CBR) and compares the material and cost of a conventional versus a geogrid solution
Best for: base courses for paved and unpaved roads, traffic areas and working platforms - especially over weak subgrades
Key inputs: method (EV2 or CBR); area (length × width); target bearing capacity at the surface; existing subgrade bearing capacity; maximum base thickness; optional price inputs
Key outputs: reinforced vs unreinforced thickness, volume, mass and geogrid quantity per aggregate type; material saving (%); recommended Secugrid®/Combigrid® products; cost comparison (EUR/GBP); product tender texts; downloadable report
Regional variants: EV2 or CBR (including UK-calibrated CBR); cost evaluation in Euro or British Pounds
From required bearing capacity to a costed base course design: how Naue Paved & UnpavedRoad – Bearing Capacity delivers
Challenges
Reaching a target bearing capacity over a weak subgrade
Thick unbound base courses drive material, haulage and cost
Making the business case for geogrid stabilisation
Naue solution
A bearing-capacity calculator (EV2/CBR) that designs the base course and compares a conventional build-up against Secugrid®/Combigrid® with material and cost figures
Results
The required base thickness to reach your target bearing capacity
A thinner geogrid base with quantified material savings
Estimated cost comparison in EUR or GBP, with a downloadable report
Where the Paved & UnpavedRoad calculator helps: applications covered
Naue Paved & UnpavedRoad (SecuCalc) is used wherever an unbound base course must reach a defined bearing capacity cost-effectively and where a geogrid-stabilised solution can cut material and cost against a conventional build-up.
Paved road base courses: unbound base design to a target bearing capacity for paved roads.
Unpaved and haul roads: cost-effective base courses for temporary and site roads.
Soft subgrade sites: greatest savings where the existing subgrade is weak.
Traffic and hardstanding areas: bearing-capacity design for car parks, aprons and hardstandings.
How Naue Paved & UnpavedRoad - Bearing Capacity works: input, reinforcement comparison and costing
A short, guided form collects the area, the target and the ground, then returns a fully comparable base-course design (conventional versus geogrid) with material quantities and, optionally, costs, and the option to save the calculation to a project.
Design of the unbound base course to reach a target modulus (EV2) or CBR at the surface
Plate load test (EV2)
Modulus-based, metric method for bearing-capacity design
CBR method (incl. UK-calibrated)
California Bearing Ratio-based method, with a UK-calibrated variant
Geosynthetic stabilisation
Secugrid® and Combigrid reduce base thickness and material for the same target bearing capacity
The Paved & UnpavedRoad advantage: optimize the base course, prove the savings
Naue Paved & UnpavedRoad lets engineers design the unbound base course precisely to the required bearing capacity and prove the value of geogrid stabilisation. By comparing conventional and Secugrid®/Combigrid® solutions on thickness, material and cost - in Euro or British Pounds - it turns the engineering benefit into a clear business case. Advantages include less aggregate, lower cost, and a documented result, backed by Naue's engineering support.
Choose the bearing-capacity method and enter your project data. The calculator then estimates the material and cost required to lift the soil to the target bearing capacity.
Practical advantages:
Select the method: EV2 (plate-load-test modulus) or CBR - with UK-calibrated CBR available
Define the area by length and width
Set the target bearing capacity at the base-course surface and the bearing capacity of the existing subgrade
Set the maximum base-course thickness over the existing soil
Optionally add price inputs to include a cost estimate
Reinforced vs unreinforced: thinner base, less material
For each suitable aggregate quality, for example gravel and sand, crushed grain or crushed rock, the software compares the reinforced (geogrid) and unreinforced (conventional) base course:
Thickness, volume and mass of aggregate for both options
Required geogrid quantity and the recommended Secugrid®/Combigrid® products and layer layout
The material saved - the geogrid build-up is typically several centimetres thinner, saving a clear percentage of aggregate
Layout and side-by-side comparison views for each aggregate type
Cost comparison, report and DesignSuite integration
Naue Paved & UnpavedRoad – Bearing Capacity turns the design into a costed, documented result:
Enable the cost estimate to compare the conventional and geogrid solutions in Euro or British Pounds
Download a report of the design, quantities and costs, together with ready-to-use product tender texts; save the calculation to a project in the Naue Portal
Use it alongside other DesignSuite tools such as PavedRoad – AASHTO, UnpavedRoad – modified GH and AxleLoad
Direct links to the Naue Engineering & Design team for project-specific review
Benefits for every project stakeholder
For planners and design engineers: A clear bearing-capacity design (EV2 or CBR) with material quantities and recommended geogrids, ready to compare and document. The Naue engineering team provides project-specific review and support.
For contractors and site managers: Thinner base courses and precise aggregate quantities mean less material to place and haul, with clear figures for tenders and site logistics.
For project owners and clients: A transparent cost comparison in EUR or GBP that quantifies the saving from geogrid stabilisation, plus reduced material use for a well-founded decision.
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Naue EDD
Project-specific review, verification and design support
SecuCalc is based on the bearing-capacity approach for unbound base courses, combined with the measured performance of Naue geogrids. Where a project needs individual review, the Naue Engineering and Design Department (EDD) supports planners and contractors with project-specific design.
Naue Paved & UnpavedRoad – Bearing Capacity (former SecuCalc) is a free online calculator in the Naue Portal DesignSuite. It designs unbound base courses to a target bearing capacity and compares the material and cost of a geogrid solution with Secugrid® and Combigrid® against a conventional build-up.
Both. You choose the bearing-capacity method: EV2 (plate-load-test modulus) or CBR. Regional variants are available, including UK-calibrated CBR, with cost evaluation in Euro or British Pounds.
For designing and costing unbound base courses for paved and unpaved roads, traffic areas and working platforms, particularly where a target bearing capacity must be reached over a weak subgrade.
The method (EV2 or CBR), the area (length × width), the target bearing capacity at the base course surface, the bearing capacity of the existing subgrade, the maximum base-course thickness, and optionally price inputs for a cost estimate.
For each suitable aggregate type it compares the reinforced and unreinforced base course - thickness, volume, mass and geogrid quantity - and reports the material saved, together with the recommended Secugrid®/Combigrid® products and layer layout.
Yes. When the cost estimate is enabled, Naue Paved & UnpavedRoad compares the conventional and geogrid solutions on cost, in Euro or British Pounds depending on the variant.
You receive a comparable base course design with quantities and costs, ready-to-use product tender texts and a downloadable report. You can save the calculation and single steps to a project in the Naue Portal.
Yes, Naue Paved & UnpavedRoad - Bearing Capacity (SecuCalc) is free within the Naue Portal. It requires a portal login, which you can request here free of charge. It is aimed at design engineers, planners, contractors and project owners.
