A Methodology for Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of CRCP Design Features

Continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) evolved out of a desire to minimize joint-related distresses and improve long-term smoothness of the pavement by eliminating transverse contraction joints. In CRCP, longitudinal reinforcing steel is continuous throughout the pavement length to hold cracks tight. A methodology for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of key CRCP design features and optimizing CRCP design was developed and presented. In this methodology, performance and cost data are combined to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pavement design features and to determine the optimum combination of these features which has lowest life cycle cost (LCC). The developed methodology was used to examine the cost-effectiveness of five of the more influential CRCP design features PCC slab thickness, longitudinal steel reinforcement content, base type and thickness, shoulder type and thickness, and PCC slab width. A detailed life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of 13 current CRCP designs utilizing different combinations of these five design features was conducted using best estimates of the relative costs and performance effects of each of these design features. The cost data were obtained from State and contractors surveys, as well as published cost data and bid tabs. The performance data were obtained from State and contractors surveys, as well as empirical and mechanistic-empirical pavement performance prediction models.