Sensitivity analysis of asphalt concrete material properties in the mechanistic-empirical pavement design

The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), developed by the NCHRP 1-37A project, provides a state-of-the-practice tool for the design of new pavement and restoration of existing ones. The design inputs consist of site conditions (traffic, climate, subgrade, existing pavement condition for rehabilitation) and material proprieties. The trial pavement structure is then evaluated for adequacy through the prediction of terminal international roughness index, surface down cracking (longitudinal cracking), bottom up cracking (alligator cracking), permanent deformation, thermal fracture (transverse cracking). The designer has the flexibility to consider different design features and materials proprieties for the prevailing site conditions. This approach makes it possible to optimize the design and to more fully ensure that specific distress types will not be developed. The implementation of a new AASHTO procedure considering typical national (Italian) conditions for traffic loads, climatic factors and material characteristics is described. Considering reference conditions for traffic, climate and subgrade a sensitivity analysis on the variability of asphalt concrete (AC) mix proprieties and bituminous binder characteristics was developed. Changing the AC characteristics within the ranges usually defined in pavement construction specifications for AC quality control, the results show that air voids and binder content in the AC mix and binder softening point are the parameters mainly influencing the predicted pavement performance. For the covering abstract see ITRD E157233

• Authors:
  • CAFISO, S
  • TAORMINA, S
  • LO FARO, A
• Publication Date: 2008

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 10p
• Serial:
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE 4TH EURASPHALT AND EUROBITUME CONGRESS HELD MAY 2008, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
  • Publisher: EUROPEAN ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION (EAPA)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Binders; Bituminous mixtures; Chemical analysis; Condition surveys; Conferences; Cracking; Environment; Flexible pavements; Loads; Maintenance; Mix design; Pavement design; Porosity
• Geographic Terms: Italy
• ITRD Terms: 4948: Binder; 4967: Bituminous mixture; 7163: Chemical analysis; 3857: Condition survey; 8525: Conference; 5211: Cracking; 2455: Environment; 2944: Flexible pavement; 8051: Italy; 5567: Load; 3847: Maintenance; 4714: Mix design; 3055: Pavement design; 5938: Porosity
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01323368
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: TRL
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 22 2010 8:48AM