Life-Cycle Cost–Based Decision Framework for Failed Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Materials in Indiana

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to create a decision framework based on life-cycle cost (LCC) for failed portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP) materials in Indiana. The Indiana Department of Transportation (DOT) has a standard practice in testing and accepting the construction of PCCP. The challenge, though, is to make informed decisions concerning PCCP sections of failed materials and whether they should be removed and replaced or be accepted with a heavy penalty. This paper presents a decision framework for failed materials based on the long-term performance of PCCP and its LCC. The framework incorporates the PAVESPEC LCC module, a tool package developed as part of the performance-related specifications research efforts. The comparison of as-designed LCC and as-constructed LCC reveals the financial impact of failed PCCP materials. Probability and user confidence were incorporated to address the risk of accepting failed materials because of inferior pavement performance and shortened service life. Many simulations of various failed material scenarios were executed to develop, calibrate, and validate the decision framework. It was found that the interaction between acceptable quality characteristics (AQCs), that is, flexural strength, air content, thickness, and smoothness, had a significant impact on the LCC estimates. This framework was able to capture the composite impact of multiple AQCs deviating from their design target and provides a monetary base for the Indiana DOT to make informed decisions concerning failed PCCP materials.