Guidelines for Implementing NCHRP 1-37A M-E Design Procedures in Ohio: Volume 4—MEPDG Models Validation & Recalibration

The development of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) under National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) projects 1-37A and 1-40D has significantly improved the ability of pavement designers to model and simulate the effects of traffic and climate on future pavement damage, distress, and smoothness. With the adoption of the MEPDG as an American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Interim Guide for Pavement Design, the next step is to integrate the MEPDG into the mainstream of pavement design procedures of State highway agencies across the U.S. The objective of this project was to implement the MEPDG for the Ohio Department of Transportation. More specifically, this study investigated a key requirement for integrating the MEPDG into current Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) pavement design procedures, that is, evaluating the adequacy of global calibration factors for predicting pavement performance in Ohio and, if needed, developing local calibration factors. Using very limited data from a few Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) projects located at one site in central Ohio, the study found that the prediction capacities of the MEPDG new hot mix asphalt (HMA) rutting and smoothness (IRI) models and the new jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) IRI model needed to be calibrated for Ohio conditions. The HMA alligator cracking model was not evaluated because of lack of adequate data. The results of a limited recalibration of these models are presented in this report, Volume 4 of four volumes. Further evaluation and recalibration is recommended using a more comprehensive database containing both HMA and JPCP projects that reflect Ohio pavement design and construction practices as well as climate and subgrade conditions.