Evaluation of Pavement Response Models Using Measured Pavement Response Data

The outputs from four computer based pavement response models has been compared with the measured pavement response from two types of pavements. The pavement models; ELSYM5,VESYS,MICHPAVE and CIRCLY were setup to model two pavements that have been tested at the Canterbury Accelerated Pavement Testing Indoor Facility (CAPTIF). The models were chosen to represent the type of model that has been the basis for pavement design in New Zealand and overseas. The input parameters for the models are outlined and the material characterisation methods are described. The process required to model a non-linear material in a linear pavement model is discussed. The results of the predicted pavement strains vary from 0.10 to 0.58 of the measured pavement strain. Some of the problems encountered in modelling thin surfaced flexible unbound granular pavements with simple pavement models have been identified.