SIMULATING PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE UNDER VARIOUS MOISTURE CONDITIONS

A computer program to simulate highway pavement performance, maintenance, and rehabilitation has recently been completed for the Federal Highway Administration. As part of this effort, closed-form pavement performance equations have been incorporated to predict the onset and propagation of various damage mechanisms as a function of layer thicknesses and material properties, traffic loadings, cumulative damage already sustained, moisture, and temperature. Both flexible and rigid pavements are considered. The simulation is carried out on a seasonal basis (up to 12 seasons per year allowed) to permit users to specify variations in climatic conditions and pavement material properties. In addition, moisture-induced decreases in layer and subgrade strengths are rendered sensitive to the amount of unsealed cracking in the pavement surface, the seasonal rainfall, and the quality of subsurface drainage. In this way the preservation of road investment, as represented by rates of future damage accumulation, is explicitly tied to both pavement drainage characteristics and the quality of subsequent surface maintenance. This paper describes the technical assumptions and relationships employed in this approach and gives examples of its application to a selected pavement design, maintenance policy, and climatic region. The case study indicates that subsurface drainage above can have a significant effect on pavement life, influencing the date of required resurfacing by up to four years. (Author)

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1982/849/849-004.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=SIMULATING+PAVEMENT+PERFORMANCE+UNDER+VARIOUS+MOISTURE+CONDITIONS&author=M.+Markow&publication_year=1982
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309033527
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Subsurface Design. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Markow, Michael J
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 24-29
• Monograph Title: Symposium on aspects of subsurface drainage related to pavement design and performance
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 849
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Driver rehabilitation; Equations; Moisture content; Pavement cracking; Pavement maintenance; Pavement performance; Pavements; Rainfall; Simulation; Subsurface drainage; Temperature; Thickness; Traffic loads
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pavement thickness; Rehabilitation
• Old TRIS Terms: Highway pavement
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00368166
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309033527
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 30 1982 12:00AM