Research on Design Method for Heavy-Duty Asphalt Pavements and Its Application

Abstract

Premature damage is currently the main problem with heavy-duty asphalt pavements. In order to decrease such premature damage, it is necessary to develop a new design system meeting the requirements of heavy-duty pavements. Based on considerable field investigations and mechanistic analysis, a five-phase design procedure, including data collection, structural combination design, structural thickness design, material testing and examination, and a final decision, was established. The procedure is a comprehensive design tool employing performance-related structural design consideration and mechanistic-based material design consideration that can link performance analysis, structural design, and material design (tests). After consideration of the extensive pavement performance data collected and subsequent analysis, relevant design equations and design criteria were proposed, including whole life asphalt pavement structural behavior equations, life cycle cost analysis models, field fatigue equations, and a shear-based rutting prediction model. As research progressed, test roads and pilot roads were constructed in ten provinces of China, and the first test road has been used successfully for 15 years.