Performance-based pay factors for asphalt concrete construction: comparison with a currently used experience-based approach

Document summarizes a procedure to establish pay factors for asphalt concrete pavement construction using performance models for fatigue and rutting based on the analysis of accelerated pavement tests from the Caltrans Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) and the WesTrack accelerated pavement performance test program. Results of the performance-based approach are compared with pay factors determined by the current Caltrans procedure using percent defective and experience-based weighting factors. • Based on the results presented in the report, it is recommended that Caltrans take the necessary steps to implement the performance-based approach using the pay factor methodology described herein. A Pay Factor Calculator using some of the spreadsheet features of Microsoft ® Excel is available, which makes use of the six pay factor tables included in the report. • A suggested approach for implementation is to select a series of QC/QA construction projects and determine pay factors by both the current procedure and the proposed performance-based approach. The results from both procedures could then be evaluated by the Joint Caltrans/Industry Task Group to determine the efficacy of implementing the performance-based approach at the completion of this evaluation.