PREDICTIVE DESIGN PROCEDURES--A DESIGN METHOD FOR FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS USING THE VESYS STRUCTURAL SUBSYSTEM

This paper describes a procedure for the analysis and design of flexible pavements. The analytic techniques upon which this procedure is based have been assembled from the application of sound fundamental principles and their evaluations from results of laboratory and field studies. The concepts used have been formulated in State Highway Planning and Research, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Administrative Contract, and FHWA staff studies. Work on the procedure was intitiated by the Pavement Systems Group of the Offices of Research and Development in order to develop a reference document to assist the pavement designer in analyzing the structural integrity of flexible pavements. Work was accomplished under Federally Coordinated Program Project 5C "New Methodology for Flexible Pavement Design." The design procedure described includes use of the most recent developments for the analysis and design of flexible pavements. Although it may be used to evaluate the distress and performance of in-service pavements, the procedure is written specifically for application to the structural analysis and design of new pavements. In either case a pavement section of known geometry is chosen and its behavior over time is predicted by sets of mechanistic models which have been computer programmed. The computer program package, known as the VESYS Computer System, computes distress and performance in terms of rutting, roughness, and crack damage. These damage indicators are then used in a distress performance relationship to predict the serviceability history of the pavement. Results of the analysis must be compared with sets of design criteria imposed by the user agency. The analysis process is repeated until the computed levels of damage and serviceability meet the acceptable levels established by the design criteria. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Volume I of proceedings of 4th International Conference on Structural Design of Asphalt Pavements, Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 22-26, 1977.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109
• Authors:
  • Kenis, W J
• Conference:
  • Volume I of proceedings of 4th International Conference on Structural Design of Asphalt Pavements, Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 22-26, 1977.
• Publication Date: 1977-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 101-130

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Defects; Flexible pavements; Forecasting; Mathematical models; Pavement cracking; Pavement design; Pavement distress; Pavement performance; Pavements; Roughness; Ruts (Pavements); Serviceability; Structural analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models; Rut
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00170209
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 14 1978 12:00AM