Mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide(MEPDG):a bird's-eye view

Past editions of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials （AASHTO） Guide for Design of Pavement Structures have served well for several decades; nevertheless, many serious limitations exist for their continued use as the nation＇s primary pavement design procedures. Researchers are now incorporating the latest advances in pavement design into the new Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide （MEPDG）, developed under the National Cooperative Highway Research Program （NCHRP） 1-37A project and adopted and published by AASHTO. The MEPDG procedure offers several dramatic improvements over the current pavement design guide and presents a new paradigm in the way pavement design is performed. However, MEPDG is substantially more complex than the AASHTO Design Guide by considering the input parameters that influence pavement performance, including traffic, climate, pavement structure and material properties, and applying the principles of engineering mechanics to predict critical pavement responses. It requires significantly more input from the designer. Some of the required data are either not tracked previously or are stored in locations not familiar to designers, and many data sets need to be preprocessed for use in the MEPDG. As a result, tremendous research work has been conducted and still more challenges need to be tackled both in federal and state levels for the full implementation of MEPDG. This paper, for the first time, provides a comprehensive bird＇s eye view for the MEPDG procedure, including the evolvement of the design methodology, an overview of the design philosophy and its components, the research conducted during the development, improvement, and implementation phases, and the challenges remained and future developments directions. It is anticipated that the efforts in this paper aid in enhancing the mechanistic-empirical based pavement design for future continuous improvement to keep up with changes in trucking, materials, construction, design concepts, computers, and so on.

Preliminary <i>k</i>-Values of Unbound Natural Quartzitic Gravels for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design

The generalized constitutive model relating the resilient modulus (MR) of flexible pavement layer materials to stress state, adopted by the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), contains a set of constants known as k-values (k1, k2, and k3) which are associated with the physical state of the layer materials. In Ghana, natural gravels constitute the predominant and sometimes the sole layer materials for most flexible pavements yet representative k-values of gravel materials, have not been determined to permit full application and implementation of the mechanistic-empirical design concept to pavements involving such materials. In this study, k-values characterising typical natural quartzitic gravels used for road construction in the country were derived by regression techniques from MR values determined using laboratory repeated load triaxial test. Using multiple linear regression technique, correlation relationships were then developed between the k-values and the physical properties of the gravels, namely, percentages of materials passing the 9.5 mm (P9.5) and 2.0 mm (P2.0) sieves, liquid limit (LL), maximum dry density (ρdmax), and optimum moisture content (wopt). The regression analysis returned k1 values which ranged between 441 and 958 with a mean of 516;k2 which varied between 0.0636 and 0.2168 with a mean value of 0.1216;and, k3 values which ranged between 0.1257 and 3.1590 with a mean value of 1.723. Contrary to what is mostly reported in literature, the analysis returned positive k3 values for all but one gravel material, suggesting stress hardening under octahedral shear stress for those materials. While an expanded sample base is required to fully characterize the whole gamut of natural gravels used in pavement construction in the country, this study on limited quartzitic gravel samples has given a good indication of strong linear correlations between the k-values and the index properties of the gravels, to permit estimates of the constants for such gravels be made where capability and opportunity for conducting resilient modulus tests do not exist.However, further work is recommended to fully characterise the exact nature of k3 values for quartzitic gravels in the country.

Analysis of Roadbed Pavement Designs for Highway Reconstruction and Upgrading

This paper focuses on the route and roadbed pavement design in highway reconstruction and upgrading projects.It discusses the importance of project design for highway reconstruction and upgrading,highlighting key aspects of route design and roadbed pavement design.The analysis reveals that the main design considerations in these projects include controlling factors of route reconstruction,expansion,and upgrading,as well as route plan design and longitudinal section design combined with roadbed pavement.In roadbed pavement design,it is crucial for designers to thoroughly collect existing data and make reasonable use of the current roadbed and pavement to develop a comprehensive design scheme.This analysis aims to provide a reference for the reasonable design of such projects.

A Full Simulation Study for the Design Optimization of Open-Graded Pavement

Water trapped within the HMA(Hot Mix Asphalt)layers of a flexible pavement causes the loss of strength and durability of the material producing surface damages and deteriorations such as stripping and ravelling.Open-graded pavements are considered potentially to be effective solutions to avoid these forms of infiltration-related distress.The main property that influences the performance of HMA is the hydraulic permeability.The permeability is a function of several properties of HMA which make the process of mix design very complex and uncertain.In this paper,starting from different grading curves,we evaluate the dependence of the permeability by the size distribution of aggregates using a full numerical model that has yet been validated through experimental tests and theoretical calculations.The correlation between the grain size distributions and the hydraulic permeability is very useful in order to simplify and optimize the design of open-graded pavements.

A systematic review of rigid-flexible composite pavement

Rigid-flexible composite pavement has gained significant popularity in recent decades.This paper provides a comprehensive review of the research progress concerning rigid-flexible composite pavement,aiming to promote its application and address key issues while identifying future directions.The design theory and methodology of rigid-flexible composite pavement are discussed,followed by a description of its structural and mechanical behavior characteristics.The load stress,temperature stress,and their interactive effects between the asphalt layer and the rigid base were analyzed.It is clarified that the asphalt layer serves a dual role as both a“functional layer”and a“structural layer”.Typical distresses of rigid-flexible composite pavement,which primarily occur in the asphalt layer,were discussed.These distresses include reflective cracking,top-down cracking,rutting,and compressive-shear failure.Generally,the integrity of the rigid base and the interlaminar bonding conditions significantly impact the performance and distress of the asphalt layer.The technology for enhancing the performance of rigid-flexible composite pavement is summarized in three aspects:asphalt layer properties,rigid base integrity,and interlaminar bonding condition.The study concludes that developing high-performance pavement materials based on their structural behaviors is an effective approach to improve the performance and durability of rigid-flexible composite pavement.The integrated design of structure and materials represents the future direction of road design.

Multi-gene genetic programming extension of AASHTO M-E for design oflow-volume concrete pavements

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement DesignGuide (AASHTO M-E) offers an opportunity to design more economical and sustainable high-volume rigid pavementscompared to conventional design guidelines. It is achieved through optimizing pavement structural andthickness design under specified climate and traffic conditions using advanced M-E principles, thereby minimizingeconomic costs and environmental impact. However, the implementation of AASHTO M-E design for low-volumeconcrete pavements using AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design (Pavement ME) software is often overly conservative.This is because Pavement ME specifies the minimum design thickness of concrete slab as 152.4 mm (6 in.). Thispaper introduces a novel extension of the AASHTO M-E framework for the design of low-volume joint plain concretepavements (JPCPs) without modification of Pavement ME. It utilizes multi-gene genetic programming (MGGP)-based computational models to obtain rapid solutions for JPCP damage accumulation and long-term performanceanalyses. The developed MGGP models simulate the fatigue damage and differential energy accumulations. Thispermits the prediction of transverse cracking and joint faulting for a wide range of design input parameters and axlespectrum. The developed MGGP-based models match Pavement ME-predicted cracking and faulting for rigidpavements with conventional concrete slab thicknesses and enable rational extrapolation of performance predictionfor thinner JPCPs. This paper demonstrates how the developed computational model enables sustainable lowvolumepavement design using optimized ME solutions for Pittsburgh, PA, conditions.

GMA material design and construction quality control for asphalt pavement of steel box girder: Case study of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge

To improve the quality of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge paving project,a new paving layer material,Guss-mastic asphalt(GMA),was proposed in this paper by combining the advantages of two types of cast asphalt mixtures:mastic asphalt(MA)and Guss asphalt(GA).Based on the characteristics of GMA,to simulate its actual production process,this study developed a small-simulated cooker mixing equipment.Moreover,the flow degree,60C dynamic stability,and impact toughness were proposed to be used to evaluate the construction and ease,high temperature stability,and fatigue resistance of GMA cast asphalt mixtures,respectively.Moreover,the quality control standards for GMA paving materials by indoor tests,field trial mix GMA material performance tests,and accelerated loading tests were finalized.The study showed that the developed simulated cooker yielded consistent mixing results in the same working environment as the engineering cooker device.Increasing the coarse aggregate incorporation rate,coarsening the mastic epure(ME)gradation composition,and using a smaller oil to stone ratio can reduce the flowability of the GMA materials to varying degrees.The four-point bending fatigue life and impact toughness of the different GMA materials are correlated well.A mobility of<20 s,60C dynamic stability of 400–800 times/mm,15C impact toughness of400 N⋅mm,and cooker car mixing temperature control standard of 210C–230C form an appropriate control index system for the design and production of GMA cast asphalt mixtures.Simultaneously,accelerated loading tests verified the accuracy and reliability of the quality control index system that has been used in the GMA paving project of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge deck and has achieved good application results.

OPTIMUM DESIGN OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT STRUCTURE BY FLEXIPLEX TOLERANCE METHOD

The optimum design for flexible pavement structure is studied by using themethod of mathematical programming.The mathematical model is founded on the basisof“Design Code of Highway Flexible Pavement”issued by the Ministry of Communica-tions of China.The objective function is the cost of pavement structure.The optimal solu-tions of the mathematical model were searched successfully by flexiplex tolerance method.The relevant program has been developed on DPS-8 and IBM-PC computers.And thecalculated results show good convergence and accuracy for engineering applications.

Structural Design of Asphalt Pavement for Low Cost Rural Roads

On the basis of the equivalent axle load action frequency, the traffic classifications of rural roads as well as their corresponding types are classified. The asphalt pavement structure, road surface types and thickness of the rural roads are suggested for the various action frequency of the equivalent axle load. Furthermore, the roadbase thickness graphs are provided according to different equivalent axle load action frequency with different roadbed modulus and road surface modulus taken into account.

Estimation of the Equivalent Design Temperature of a Pavement in Burkina Faso

The bituminous pavements of the city of Ouagadougou(Burkina Faso)are made using old design methods which take into account the climate from the notion of equivalent temperature.Thus an equivalent temperature of 30°C is often used for the design of bituminous pavements.The observation that has been made is that this temperature does not currently make it possible to reduce the problems of early degradation of the pavements linked to meteorological fluctuations.The objective of this article is to propose a numerical approach for determining the equivalent temperature from temperature measurements taken at the surface of the pavement.This approach consists in jointly using the Alizé-Lcpc sizing software and the Comsol Multiphysics software using the finite element method.For a four-layer bituminous pavement,located at 12.38°North and 1.48°West,in Ouagadougou,consisting of a surface course of bituminous concrete of 8 cm and a base course of gravel bitumen of 16 cm,an equivalent temperature of 35°C was obtained.

Research on the Integration of Structural Design and Material Parameters of Long-life Asphalt Pavement

In order to reduce the disease risk stemming from asphalt concrete pavement and ensure the safety of road operation,we should pay attention to the structural design of long-life asphalt pavement,strengthen the selection of long-term pavement materials,scientifically set the pavement mechanical performance indexes based on the calculation results of pavement structure thickness combination and modulus combination,and ensure the stability and durability of road pavement structure through the real-time establishment of three-dimensional finite element calculation model,as well as the integrated design that takes into consideration the aspects of road subgrade,semi-rigid base and asphalt layer.

Subgrade and Pavement Design Strategies for Different Road Settlement Sections

The quality of road engineering construction largely determines the road operation safety and driving comfort. However, in road engineering construction, the settlement of subgrade and pavement has always been an insurmountable problem. Therefore, in road construction practice, targeted treatment should be carried out for the sections prone to settlement, and subgrade and pavement design strategies for these settlement sections should be carried out, so as to reduce the risk of settlement and ensure the improvement of road engineering quality and safety.

Measures for the Optimization of Subgrade and Pavement Design in the Reconstruction and Expansion of Highways

In comparison to the construction of modern highway engineering,several of China’s early pavement construction concerns,such as pavement collapse,are rather clear.Limited by historical and technical factors,the subgrade and pavement design for highways lacks scientificity,thus inducing potential safety problems in the operation.In order to comprehensively improve the subgrade and pavement design as well as ensure the quality and safety of highway engineering projects,this paper takes the reconstructed and expanded highway projects as research subjects and focuses on proposing optimization measures for the subgrade and pavement design of reconstructed and expanded highways,so as to provide adequate reference.

A systematic review of steel bridge deck pavement in China

As an important part of steel bridge deck,the engineering quality and service condition of steel bridge deck pavement(SBDP)directly affects the capacity and operational efficiency of the bridge.This paper reviews the history of the development of SBDP in China over the past 20 years from the exploration stage,rapid development stage and prosperity stage.The development and application of SBDP at different stages are discussed in terms of materials,structure,design,performance evaluation,maintenance and rehabilitation,respectively.The advantages and disadvantages of different pavement materials and structures,and the application of different research methods are summarized.The review shows that the improvement of pavement materials and structures and the development of new materials should be further studied on the multi-scale to enhance the durability of pavement materials,so as to extend the service life of pavements.The design method of SBDP related to the synergistic effect of vehicle,pavement and bridge should be established,and the design concept and method standard of rigid base pavement structure should be improved and formulate a complete design standard.In addition,multi-disease intelligent identification system and equipment should be studied to track the entire course of disease development in real time.And it is necessary to develop appropriate algorithms to select and classify the complex data of disease and maintenance history.

港口重载AGV驱动防滑设计

针对港口重载自动导引运输车(AGV)工作中遇到的过度滑转危险,文中提出一种基于最佳滑转率控制的驱动防滑设计。该设计根据港口环境特点建立路面附着特性模型;选用T-S型模糊控制器进行港口路面模糊识别设计,对峰值纵向附着系数及最佳滑转率进行识别,并将识别结果用于最佳滑转率控制中,进而提升港口AGV驱动防滑性能。通过单一路面与对接路面识别试验,验证了港口路面模糊识别器具有准确识别能力。

基于多尺度加载试验的沥青路面结构参数设计方法

基于江苏省典型路面结构,通过改变试件尺寸、温度和荷载作用次数对SMA-13、SUP-20和SUP-253种材料开展动态模量和蠕变试验。将结果耦合到修正的Burgers模型并在ABAQUS中开发用户材料子程序模型。对室内单轴试验分别采用应变硬化和子程序模型进行模拟、对小型和大型路面加载试验分别进行车辙模拟。结果表明3种材料的动态模量随试件尺寸增加而增大、温度升高而减小;SUP-25的疲劳损伤效应最为明显,在重复加载5400次后损伤值达到了0.419。子程序模拟单轴试验的误差小于应变硬化模型、车辙模拟与小型和大型加载测试结果的误差分别为3.08%和2.83%,说明模型在单层及多层复合材料的应用中都是有效的。模拟表明夏季高温100万次加载的变形量为春季常温的1.8倍;行车速度由22 km/h增加至120 km/h时,变形量减少72.6%;轴载增加100%,车辙深度增加48.52%,表明在高温地区低速路段要尤其限制车辆超载。累计标准轴载作用次数超过2500万次,车辙变形进入加速累积阶段,须及时对该路面结构进行养护维修。

响应面法纤维网格布强化混凝土配比设计

针对机轮磨耗、飞机尾喷等强外部作用对机场道面表层损坏严重的问题,提出采用纤维网格布对道面混凝土表层进行强化。为设计出最优配合比,以飞机尾喷和紫外线照射作为环境作用,采用响应面法设计耐磨耗试验和抗冻试验,对纤维网布尺寸、砂率和细度模数因素对强化混凝土耐磨耗和抗冻性能的影响进行分析,以此对混凝土配合比进行优化设计。结果表明:二次或三次模型拟合效果较好,模型较为显著;纤维网格布尺寸对强化混凝土性能影响最大,其次是细度模数,最后是砂率,尺寸和砂率、细度模数交互作用影响明显。当纤维网布尺寸为3 mm×3 mm,砂细度模数为2.8,砂率为0.28~0.31时,强化混凝土的性能最佳。

哥伦比亚高等级公路路基路面设计理念分析

哥伦比亚公路设计基本按美国标准执行,设计理念也偏向于美国,同时有哥伦比亚自身工程设计的习惯、理念及特点。该文介绍了哥伦比亚北部MAR_(2)公路项目中的防护工程、排水工程、路基填料、取弃土场和路面等方面的主要设计方案,对比分析了中哥设计理念的异同,并提出可互学互鉴的内容。

用于隧道路面检测的照明系统设计

为保证隧道路面检测系统的高检测精度,本研究设计了一款适用于自动路面检测系统的双光源照明系统来实现被测路面的均匀照明。该系统通过9×7矩形LED阵列配以矩形复合抛物面聚光器对5 m×2.2 m的路面进行双光源倾斜照明,两光源之间的距离为1.3 m,向车辆后方及车辆外侧分别倾斜13°和26°。经过不断优化,在1.8 m的照明高度下,该系统的光照均匀度达到84.24%,被测路面的平均光照度达到21 135 lx,光能利用率为58.5%。相较于目前隧道路面检测的照明系统,本文设计的系统稳定性较好、照度较高、照明范围较大,公差要求原则上满足现代加工水平,并且成本较低、寿命较长、结构紧凑、容易装调,可满足隧道路面检测的照明需求。