Clustering Methods for Truck Traffic Characterization in Pavement ME Design

Abstract

AbstractAxle loading spectrum inputs obtained from existing weigh-in-motion (WIM) stations are one of the key data elements required in the pavement mechanistic-empirical (ME) design. Because of limited number of WIM stations within a state agency, it is critical to implement clustering approaches to identifying similar traffic patterns and developing cluster average Level 2 inputs for a particular pavement design. Even though several states have applied clustering methods for this purpose, they rely solely on hierarchical-based method. Many other types of clustering techniques based on different induction principles are available but have not been tested. In this paper, four types of clustering methods, including agglomerative hierarchical, partitional K-means, model-based, and fuzzy c-means algorithms, are implemented to cluster traffic attributes for pavement ME design using data sets from 39 WIM sites in Michigan. Two case studies, one flexible pavement and one rigid pavement, are conducted. The impac...