The paper is devoted to the comparison results of experimental data and theoretical stress calculations (arising in pavement layers made from granular materials). The formulas of continuum mechanics and mechanics for granular materials and mathematical dependences, got in accordance with engineering calculation method, were taken as a calculation model. The experimental stress values, measured by Steven B.D. using ring stand (University of Canterbury), were applied as a standard. The ring stand ley us employ moving loads to the stand segments with pavement constructed over the ring stand. It was discovered that the best match of values of experimental and calculation data is got by stress computing based on formulas of mechanics for granular materials (M.E. Harr or I.I. Kandaurov) or continuum mechanics, but with O.C. Frohlich parameter added to С.R. Foster, R.G. Ahlvin and H.H. Ulery’s formula. This Frohlich parameter can be taken as a material parameter. In the conclusion the authors show the way of modification of the well-known approaches in mechanics for granular materials. This new way makes possible to calculate minimum principal stress σ3.The modified mathematical relationships of principal stress calculation can be used in models for elastic, plastic, elastic-plastic deformation calculations and in conditions of plasticity.