01661919

Component

Traditionally, the design of flexible pavements in Costa Rica and countries in the region has been performed with the empirical methodology defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1993. This methodology was developed for the climatic conditions and materials from Illinois, which are different from those found in tropical countries. The new methodologies for flexible pavement design are based on the use of solid mechanics, which computes the responses of a pavement (stresses, strains and deflections) as a result of traffic loading, and with this, estimates the performance of the pavement through its service life by means of transfer functions. To improve the local pavement design methodology, the University of Costa Rica has worked on several research lines (materials characterization, traffic, climate, software development, mathematical modeling, accelerated pavement testing and performance models) to develop its own mechanistic-empirical methodology (CRME). The research developed includes predictive models for determining the hot-mix asphalt dynamic modulus, unbound layers non-linear resilient modulus models, axle load spectra, lateral wander, moisture and temperature effect on the materials constituting the pavement structure. A comparison was made between the CRME and two other design computational tools [Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG} and AASHTOWare] to evaluate the results obtained with the software. Differences were found between the outputs obtained, because of the way in which the climatic and traffic variables were considered. However, it was possible to note that the results obtained with the CRME are realistic and more representative of regional conditions.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFD60 Standing Committee on Design and Rehabilitation of Asphalt Pavements.

18-05459

English

15p

2018

Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Flexible pavements; Mathematical models; Mechanistic-empirical pavement design; Tropics

AASHTOWare (Software); Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide

Comparative analysis; Local conditions

Costa Rica

Design; Highways; Pavements

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2018 Paper #18-05459

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 8 2018 11:23AM