Exploring AASHTO PP69-10 Rut Parameters with 3D 1mm Pavement Surface Model

Rut measurement is critical to modern pavement modeling and management. Over the years, pavement rut has been measured with manual or limited-point automated devices. However, such lagging technologies and outdated protocols have led to the “rut depth” only convention, which compromises the application of rut data. Recently, the new 3D 1mm pavement surface model produced with the PaveVision3D Ultra system is capable of providing pavement engineers full-lane-width high resolution transverse profiles for analysis. Multiple rut characteristics such as rut area and deformation can be consistently derived based on the new American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) protocol PP69-10. To provide insight into PP69-10 rut parameters, bulks of transverse profile data collected from Arkansas National Highway Systems (NHS) are analyzed in this study. The value range of the deformation parameter is modeled. The relationship of rut depth measured with traditional method and the new PP69-10 method is established. The correlations among different PP69-10 rut attributes are examined. Results presented in this study will be helpful to highway agencies in shifting the state of the practice of rut measurement.