MECHANISTIC-EMPIRICAL FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT DESIGN: AN OVERVIEW

Activities associated with the development of the revised AASHTO "Guide for the Design of Pavement Structures" (1986 edition) prompted the AASHTO Joint Task Force on Pavements (JTFOP) recommendation to immediately initiate research with the objective of developing mechanistic pavement analysis and design procedures suitable for use in future versions of the AASHTO guide. The mechanistic-empirical (M-E) principles and concepts stated in the AASHTO guide were included in the NCHRP 1-26 ("Calibrated Mechanistic Structural Analysis Procedures for Pavements") project statement. It was not the purpose of NCHRP Project 1-26 to devote significant effort to develop new technology but to assess, evaluate, and apply available M-E technology. Thus, the proposed processes and procedures were based on the best demonstrated available technology. NCHRP Project 1-26 has been completed and the comprehensive reports are available. M-E flexible pavement design is a reality. Some state highway agencies (Kentucky and Illinois) have already established M-E design procedures for new pavements. M-E flexible pavement design procedures have also been developed by industry groups (Shell, Asphalt Institute, and Mobil). The AASHTO JTFOP continues to support and promote the development of M-E procedures for pavement thickness design and is facilitating movement toward an M-E procedure. The successful and wide-scale implementation of M-E pavement design procedures will require cooperating and interacting with various agencies and groups (state highway agencies, AASHTO--particularly the AASHTO JTFOP, FHWA--particularly the Pavement Division and Office of Engineering, and many material and paving association industry groups). It is not an easy process, but it is an achievable goal.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/1539-01
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MECHANISTIC-EMPIRICAL+FLEXIBLE+PAVEMENT+DESIGN%3a+AN+OVERVIEW&author=M.+Thompson&publication_year=1996
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309059127
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1539, Flexible Pavement Design and Rehabilitation Issues.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Thompson, M R
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1-5
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1539
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cooperation; Design practices; Empirical methods; Flexible pavements; Guides to information; Interagency relations; Mechanistic design; Pavement design; Thickness
• Identifier Terms: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; National Cooperative Highway Research Program; NCHRP Project 1-26
• Old TRIS Terms: Guides; Thickness design
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00730274
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309059127
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 19 1997 12:00AM