SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1983
STP31808S

Characterization of Flexible Pavement: A Case Study

Source

The degradation and the damage state of a flexible pavement section may be attributed to several factors. These include environmental factors, traffic loading factors, and material interaction and variability factors. The collective conditions of a pavement section in a particular damage state may be called pavement damage index (PDI). Such a damage index is related to the pavement deflection output.

This paper discusses the characteristic parameters of the pavement time-dependent deflection response and their relationship to the damage done to the flexible pavement section in question. Further, a case study is presented where a full-depth asphaltic highway pavement section was tested after construction and before it was subjected to any traffic loading. The calculated characteristic parameters of the time-dependent deflection response indicated, at the time, that a severe damage in the form of permanent deformations (rut depth) should be expected when the pavement section is opened to traffic. The highway section in this case study experienced a rut depth of up to 25.4 mm (1 in.) after only six months of mixed traffic (trucks and cars).

Author Information

Baladi, GY
Federal Highway Administration (IPA), Office of Research, Washington, D. C.
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: D04
Pages: 164–171
DOI: 10.1520/STP31808S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4873-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0257-6