01663697

Component

One of the most important components of the transportation infrastructure is the road network. Within the road network, the pavement structure is probably the main element of state owned transportation assets that need to be maintained, rehabilitated and reconstructed. The performance of pavement structures is significantly affected by environmental factors. Such environmental factors include inundation. The inundation of road and highway systems is a common consequence of extreme weather events caused by climate change.. Due to the presence of excessive water in the pavement foundation layers, the bearing capacity of these layers may decline and could cause collapse of a section of a road. Moreover, opening the road to the traffic after major inundation could increase the severity of distresses and may increase the cost of rehabilitation and maintenance. Inundation thus leads to temporary or long-term closures of road sections. Therefore, evaluation of the performance of pavements during inundation caused by such extreme weather events is of major interest to departments of transportation and state highway agencies as well as coastal city and county stakeholders. Furthermore, the ultimate adaption of FHWA methods and other methods by U.S. Coastal regions is effective in analyzing current pavement conditions and preventing future damage, as it will decrease state repair cost, as well as, provide for safe passage for emergency vehicles and evacuation traffic. This study examines the FHWA Vulnerability Assessment study, Virginia’s Coastal region FHWA Vulnerability Assessment pilot study, as well as, analysis of inundation impact on Structural Performance of Road Pavement Systems. These methods and studies can be used in the future to evaluate the current performance of transportation infrastructures along the coastal region of the State of Georgia under inundation caused by extreme weather conditions. The purpose is to increase the rate of adaptation in all regions that will be impacted by Global Climate change in the United States.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFD30 Standing Committee on General and Emerging Pavement Design.

18-06359

English

15p

2018

Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; Maps; Photos; References

Bearing capacity; Flood damage; Floods; Moisture content; Moisture damage; Pavement layers; Pavement performance

Climate Change & Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessment Framework (Federal Highway Administration)

Coastal regions

Georgia; Virginia

Environment; Highways; Materials; Pavements; Security and Emergencies

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2018 Paper #18-06359

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 8 2018 11:38AM