Prediction of Permanent Deformation in Flexible Pavement Materials

This paper presents a method to predict the permanent deformation (rutting) in pavements using a mechanistic-empirical model of material characterization. Three permanent deformation parameters are developed through material testing to simply represent the curved relationship between permanent strains and the number of load cycles. Equations are developed by regression analysis which determine how these three parameters are affected by the material properties, environmental conditions (moisture and temperature), and stress state. These relations are important in calculating the permanent deformation of pavement layers since the relation between permanent deformation and cycles of load from the laboratory is usually examined in test conditions that are significantly different from field conditions. The permanent deformations calculated from the method presented are compared with results measured in the field in Florida and are found to be accurate. The permanent deformation obtained is shown to be in reasonable agreement with the measured results. It is demonstrated that this method provides an appropriate and realistic analysis of prediction of the permanent deformation, and further, the results are used in the prediction of the loss of serviceability index of pavements using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Road Test relation. The paper demonstrates the importance of accurate materials characterization in predicting the rutting of asphalt concrete pavements on granular base course. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 862156.