PREDICTION OF PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE FROM CALCULATED STRESSES AND STRAINS AT THE SAN DIEGO TEST ROAD

The test road of 35 pavement sections (250 ft. length and 12 ft. width) with 8 base types (untreated aggregate, liquid asphalt-treated aggregate, asphalt cement treated aggregate and asphalt concrete) at four levels of thickness (from 3.6 to 15-, in.) was studied to determine how well the pavement systems can be modeled by an elastic layered system. Comparisons were made of surface deflections and subsurface strain with various performance indices. The experimental program planned and conducted since 1966 also determined and reported the specific thicknesses of various types of base courses required to give a desired level of performance, and related certain measured properties of the pavement and pavement components to observed performance. The earlier reports showed that the responses of strain and deformation could be estimated from mechanistic models of a pavement. It was noted that quantitative comparisons were subject to some error; however, it was concluded that theoretical predictions could be used to indicate the effects of load and environment on the pavement reponse. The results of this present study provide information concerned with the development of design criteria, performance evaluation and insight on relating pavement distress to performance. It is concluded that limiting criteria, expressed in terms of the predicted tensile strain in the treated layers (fatigue), surface deflection (fatigue) and subgrade strain (rutting), can be correlated with field performance. It is also concluded that additional replications in laboratory and field testing are required to develop more confidence in the results, and that PSI is not a good dependent variable to compare with the predicted response variable.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

  155 Experimental Engineering Building
  Minneapolis, MN  United States  55455
• Authors:
  • Hicks, R G
  • Finn, F N
• Conference:
  • Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists Proc
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1-40
• Serial:
  • Volume: 43

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Asphalt concrete; Deflection; Deformation; Design; Emulsions; Forecasting; Liquid asphalt; Mechanical elasticity; Mechanical strain; Pavement base course; Pavement design; Pavement performance; Pavement surface course; Physiological fatigue; Stresses; Test sections; Variables
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria
• Old TRIS Terms: Response; Strains
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00125396
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 18 1975 12:00AM