Preliminary Study of Evaluating Asphalt Pavement Rutting Performance Using the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide

Abstract

In the USA, many highway agencies have successfully implemented the SuperpaveTM volumetric mixture design procedure. Yet, a number of studies have shown that the SuperpaveTM volumetric mixture design method alone is insufficient to ensure reliable mixture performance over a wide range of traffic and climatic conditions. As highway agencies begin the implementation of the AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), they will be tasked with the development of local calibration factors specific to the materials, construction practices, loading regimes and environment of their region. The local calibration factors specific to the materials incorporate the test of the dynamic modulus of asphalt mixtures. In fact, the dynamic modulus of asphalt mixtures is an important input parameter for pavement thickness design. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to use the dynamic modulus of SuperpaveTM asphalt mixtures in the MEPDG to predict rutting over two years and to compare the results with field rutting performance. The MEPDG prediction shows that most of the mixtures with lower design traffic levels have less rutting after two years of service. In addition, the comparison between field rutting and the MEPDG prediction shows that the MEPDG is applicable for use as a basic pavement design tool.