TEST TRACKS AND IN-SERVICE TEST ROADS: USING REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE TO DEVELOP TOOLS FOR DESIGNING BETTER PAVEMENTS
What makes a better pavement? The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), State highway agencies, industry, and academia have teamed up to answer that question through a variety of research projects designed to improve models for predicting pavement performance. Models help engineers test and verify the numerous complex materials, environmental, and structural variables that affect pavement performance. They allow engineers to simulate real-life scenarios under crucial "what-if" conditions. And ultimately they convert data into information used to produce more durable pavements. Although models often start off as theoretical, laboratory, or computer studies, they don't stop there. The most valuable part of the research involves testing actual pavement sections. Across the country, researchers are monitoring and analyzing in-service pavements and specially constructed test tracks to determine how well pavements of different designs, materials, and construction perform under varying traffic loads and environmental conditions. These important research projects are highlighted in this booklet. Using today's most advanced technology, these projects are the key to the pavements of tomorrow.
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Corporate Authors:
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 - Publication Date: 1996
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Photos; Tables;
- Pagination: 13 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Experimental roads; Forecasting; Mathematical models; Pavement design; Pavement performance; Performance; Research projects; Test facilities; Test sections; Test tracks
- Uncontrolled Terms: Models; Performance prediction
- Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; Research; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00725500
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-96-118
- Files: TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Sep 3 1996 12:00AM