Using AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design Tools to Evaluate Flood Impact on Concrete Pavement Performance

Using AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design Tools to Evaluate Flood Impact on Concrete Pavement Performance
Author: Oluremi Oyediji
Publisher:
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2019
Genre: Climatic changes
ISBN:

The resilience of concrete pavement to flood impact has remained positive based on previous experimental investigations and overtime recommended as a pre-flood adaptation strategy in countries such as Australia and the United States. However, no study on concrete pavement flood impact performance has been conducted in Canada until now. Flood impact assessment under Canadian climate conditions was therefore conducted on typical concrete pavement designs common to the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. In the Ontario study, representative arterial and collector pavement designs were modelled, and cycles of flood hazards simulated on these pavements to evaluate changes in performance under climate change scenarios using the AASHTO Pavement ME Design (PMED) program. Percentage damage was estimated by observing changes in International Roughness Index (IRI) prediction values under flood and no-flood conditions. Results indicate a slight reduction in pavement performance across road classes, and minimal increases in damage as event cycles increased. Estimated flood damage on pavement performance was more pronounced in collector (non-dowelled) pavements than arterial (dowelled) pavements. The major distress indicator which contributed to damage was faulting, being that it increased across event cycles irrespective of return periods. In the Manitoba case study, a total of 27 pavement design classes was developed based on a matrix of representative traffic levels, subgrade conditions and slab thicknesses common to the province. Projected climate-induced flood hazards under climate change scenarios were further modelled on the design classes to evaluate flood impact on concrete pavement performance. Results also indicated diminutive flood damage and loss of life in all of the concrete pavement classes. Increases in flood cycles induced no further damage or loss in pavement performance. In all of the pavement classes considered, there was no positive change or damage to faulting and fatigue cracking under flood conditions. The IRI parameter was the only parameter influenced by inundation, which could further suggest the possible build-up of permanent moisture-induced warping. The observed low flood damage ratios further reiterates the resilience and adaptive capacity of the Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP) to withstand extreme precipitation or flood conditions. A local calibration of the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Transverse Cracking Transfer Function was successfully completed to fit observed concrete pavement performance in Ontario. As bias existed in cracking predictions using default AASHTOWare Pavement ME cracking calibration coefficients, a need for local calibration was pertinent to provide better predictions of cracking performance under Ontario conditions. This achievement is pivotal to the delivery of reliable and economical pavement design and construction projects across the province. The derived local calibration factors have been accepted and published by the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) for industry use.

Investigation of AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design/DARWin-ME Performance Prediction Models for Iowa Pavement Analysis and Design

Investigation of AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design/DARWin-ME Performance Prediction Models for Iowa Pavement Analysis and Design
Author: Halil Ceylan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2015
Genre: Computer software
ISBN:

The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) was developed under National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 1-37A as a novel mechanistic-empirical procedure for the analysis and design of pavements. The MEPDG was subsequently supported by AASHTO's DARWin-ME and most recently marketed as AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software as of February 2013. Although the core design process and computational engine have remained the same over the years, some enhancements to the pavement performance prediction models have been implemented along with other documented changes as the MEPDG transitioned to AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software. Preliminary studies were carried out to determine possible differences between AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design, MEPDG (version 1.1), and DARWin-ME (version 1.1) performance predictions for new jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP), new hot mix asphalt (HMA), and HMA over JPCP systems. Differences were indeed observed between the pavement performance predictions produced by these different software versions. Further investigation was needed to verify these differences and to evaluate whether identified local calibration factors from the latest MEPDG (version 1.1) were acceptable for use with the latest version (version 2.1.24) of AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design at the time this research was conducted. Therefore, the primary objective of this research was to examine AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design performance predictions using previously identified MEPDG calibration factors (through InTrans Project 11-401) and, if needed, refine the local calibration coefficients of AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design pavement performance predictions for Iowa pavement systems using linear and nonlinear optimization procedures. A total of 130 representative sections across Iowa consisting of JPCP, new HMA, and HMA over JPCP sections were used. The local calibration results of AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design are presented and compared with national and locally calibrated MEPDG models.

Implementation of AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design Software for Pavement Rehabilitation

Implementation of AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design Software for Pavement Rehabilitation
Author: Shuvo Islam
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2019
Genre:
ISBN:

The 1993 version of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design guide has been the primary pavement design tool for state highway agencies in the United States. Recently, a mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) has been developed for new and rehabilitated pavement design. MEPDG approaches have been incorporated into a proprietary design software (commonly known as AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design (PMED)) for new and rehabilitated pavement designs. The main objective of this study was to facilitate implementation of this AASHTOWare PMED software for rehabilitated pavement design in Kansas. As part of this implementation, transfer functions for translating mechanistic pavement responses into visible distresses embedded in the AASHTOWare PMED software were locally calibrated to eliminate bias and reduce standard error for rehabilitated pavements in Kansas. Rehabilitated pavement sections included asphalt concrete (AC) over AC and jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) sections. The PMED software requires periodic recalibration of the prediction models to account for improvements in the PMED models, changes in agency design and construction strategies, and updates in performance data. Thus, another objective of this study was to develop an automated technique for calibrating the AASHTOWare PMED software performance models. The automated methodology developed in this study incorporated robust sampling techniques to verify calibrated PMED models. In addition, a statistical equivalence testing approach was incorporated to ensure PMED-predicted performance results tend to agree with the in-situ data.

Implementation of the AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Design Guide (AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design) for Pavement Rehabilitation

Implementation of the AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Design Guide (AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design) for Pavement Rehabilitation
Author: Shuvo Islam
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023
Genre:
ISBN:

The AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design (PMED) is a novel design method for new and rehabilitated pavement designs based on mechanistic-empirical design principles. The design process includes several empirical models calibrated with pavement performance data from pavement sections throughout the United States. Improved accuracy of the design process requires that the models be calibrated to local conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to implement the AASHTOWare PMED software for rehabilitated pavement design by performing local calibration for state-managed roads in Kansas, New Jersey, and Maine. Transfer functions for translating mechanistic pavement responses into visible distresses embedded in the AASHTOWare PMED software were locally calibrated to eliminate bias and reduce the standard error for rehabilitated pavements in Kansas and New York. Calibration was performed using version 2.5 and then verified with version 2.6.2.2, which was released in September 2022. Rehabilitated pavement sections included asphalt concrete (AC) over AC in Kansas and the New England region and jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) sections in Kansas. Because the PMED software requires periodic recalibration of the prediction models to account for improvements in the models, changes in agency design and construction strategies, and updates in performance data, this study also developed an automated technique for calibrating the AASHTOWare PMED software performance models. This automated methodology incorporated robust sampling techniques to verify calibrated PMED models. In addition, statistical equivalence testing was incorporated to ensure PMED-predicted performance results tended to agree with the in-situ data. A comparison of results for the AASHTOWare PMED versions 2.5 and 2.6.2.2 showed that most predicted distress values in Kansas remained the same, except for the predicted AC total fatigue cracking, specifically asphalt bottom-up fatigue cracking. For both distress types, slightly higher values were obtained with version 2.6.2.2. Results of three candidate crack tests showed that IDEAL-CT test results can be used as cracking-resistance criterion for mixtures in Kansas. The rehabilitation models were also successfully calibrated for the New England region.

Consideration of Preservation in Pavement Design and Analysis Procedures

Consideration of Preservation in Pavement Design and Analysis Procedures
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 72
Release: 2015
Genre: Pavements
ISBN: 9780309308823

"TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 810: Consideration of Preservation in Pavement Design and Analysis Procedures explores the effects of preservation on pavement performance and service life and describes three different approaches for considering these effects in pavement design and analysis procedures. The report may serve as a basis for developing procedures for incorporating preservation in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide: A Manual of Practice (MEPDG) and the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software. Initially, the scope of this project intended to develop procedures for incorporating pavement preservation treatments into the MEPDG design analysis process that would become part of the MEPDG Manual of Practice. However, it was determined that sufficient data were not available to support the development of such procedures. Appendices A through I are available online only." --

Development of Local Calibration Factors and Design Criteria Values for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design

Development of Local Calibration Factors and Design Criteria Values for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 42
Release: 2015
Genre: Pavements
ISBN:

A mechanistic-empirical (ME) pavement design procedure allows for analyzing and selecting pavement structures based on predicted distress progression resulting from stresses and strains within the pavement over its design life. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has been working toward implementing ME design by characterizing traffic and materials inputs, training with the models and design software, and analyzing current pavement designs in AASHTOware Pavement ME Design software. This study compared the measured performance of asphalt and continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP) from VDOTs Pavement Management System (PMS) records to the predicted performance in AASHTOware Pavement ME Design. Model coefficients in the software were adjusted to match the predicted asphalt pavement permanent deformation, asphalt bottom-up fatigue cracking, and CRCP punchout outputs to the measured values from PMS records. Values for reliability, design life inputs, and distress limits were identified as a starting point for VDOT to consider when using AASHTOware Pavement ME Design through consideration of national guidelines, existing VDOT standards, PMS rating formulas, typical pavement performance at time of overlay, and the data used for local calibration. The model calibration coefficients and design requirement values recommended in this study can be used by VDOT with AASHTOware Pavement ME Design as a starting point to implement the software for design, which should allow for more optimized pavement structures and improve the long-term performance of pavements in Virginia.

Proposed Enhancements to Pavement ME Design: Improved Consideration of the Influence of Subgrade and Unbound Layers on Pavement Performance

Proposed Enhancements to Pavement ME Design: Improved Consideration of the Influence of Subgrade and Unbound Layers on Pavement Performance
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 231
Release: 2019
Genre: Pavements
ISBN:

The performance of flexible and rigid pavements is known to be closely related to properties of the base, subbase, and/or subgrade. However, some recent research studies indicate that the performance predicted by this methodology shows a low sensitivity to the properties of underlying layers and does not always reflect the extent of the anticipated effect/ So the procedures contained in the American Association of Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO’s) design guidance need to be evaluated. NCHRP Web-Only Document 264: Proposed Enhancements to Pavement ME Design: Improved Consideration of the Influence of Subgrade and Unbound Layers on Pavement Performance proposes and develops enhancements to AASHTO's Pavement ME Design procedures for both flexible and rigid pavements, which will better reflect the influence of subgrade and unbound layers (properties and thicknesses) on the pavement performance.