Abstract

Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure employ modified Shell nomographs for flexible pavement thickness design. These modified design nomographs for typical 1970s Saskatchewan field state conditions are based on the local calibration of Shell design curves. However, the modified Shell nomographs are not applicable for the design of recycled pavement systems, particularly full depth reclamation and granular base strengthened systems. This paper presents a mechanistic based thickness design methodology using linear elastic road modeling and a field validation study based on granular base stabilization and strengthening pilot project on Control Section (C.S.) 15-11 in Saskatchewan. The mechanistic methodology of this research included triaxial frequency sweep dynamic modulus and Poisson’s ratio characterization of various strengthened materials taken from the C.S. 15-11 test sections, pavement structural modeling using linear elastic theory, and calculating critical pavement design strain responses. As demonstrated in this research, strengthened pavement structures can be evaluated and designed based on mechanistic testing and linear elastic modeling results. The modeling results revealed rutting and shoving failure concurred with the field performance observed. Predicted primary deflection responses also concurred with those quantified in the field using a non-destructive falling weight deflectometer.

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