DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMANCE MODELS FOR ONTARIO'S NEW MECHANISTIC-EMPIRICAL PAVEMENT DESIGN METHOD

Ontario's OPAC design method, developed in the early 1970s, was mechanistic-empirically based. A key feature was the performance modeling approach which separated traffic and environment associated deterioration. A new, comprehensive "OPAC 2000" has been developed as the successor to the original OPAC. This new pavement design method is also mechanistic-empirically based, with separate load-associated and environment associated performance models. However, the updated models have been calibrated from an extensive, long-term performance data base (incorporating age vs PCI, layer thicknesses, ESALs, etc.). Moreover, they have been regionally adjusted using a clustering technique. As well, reliability analysis has been included based on the second moment approximation method to obtain variance estimates for the parameters. Validation checks indicate very reasonable results. While the framework of OPAC 2000 will be summarized in terms of the major modules and subsystems, including a comprehensive economic analysis module, the paper concentrates on the performance modeling effort and results. It is suggested that even though the calibration has been carried out with the Ontario data base, the approach is generic in that the model form is transferable and could be calibrated to other regions.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This conference was arranged by the International Society for Asphalt Pavements. The ninth conference will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark in August 2002.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Washington, Seattle

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, P.O. Box 352700
  Seattle, WA  United States  98195-2700
• Authors:
  • He, Zonglian
  • Kennepohl, G
  • Cai, Y
  • Haas, R
• Conference:
  • Eighth International Conference on Asphalt Pavements
  • Location: Seattle, Washington
  • Date: 1997-8-10 to 1997-8-14
• Publication Date: 1997

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 61-77

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calibration; Design methods; Environmental impacts; Mathematical models; Mechanistic design; Pavement design; Pavement performance; Traffic loads; Validation
• Geographic Terms: Ontario (Province)
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Freight Transportation; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00764650
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Volume I
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 8 1999 12:00AM