2013 Session: 809

• Integrating Rolling-Wheel Deflectometer Measurements into Pavement Management Systems Using Multivariate Statistical Methods and Fuzzy Logic
  Abstract: The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD), conducted a research project on approximately 1400 miles of asphaltic concrete roadways with the Rolling Wheel Deflectometer (RWD). The major outcomes of the study were to assess the effectiveness of the RWD as a structural assessment tool on Louisiana Highways and to introduce the RWD index (RI).The purpose of this paper was to define RI ranges for the treatment selections or pavement structural conditions linked to current LADOTD PMS methods using multivariate (Factor Analysis), descriptive (Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)) statistical methods, and fuzzy logic-functions.The Factor Analysis revealed that RI could be generally used as a single index to assess the pavement structural conditions.The ANOVA analysis revealed that RI could not be used to establish the four treatment methods typically used by LADOTD. However, the ANOVA analysis did reveal that the RI could be used to infer whether a pavement was structurally-sound or deficient. If discovered to be structurally- deficient, additional structural evaluation would be required such as with an FWD.Fuzzy logic/set theory was utilized to establish fuzzy functions for the structurally-sound and structurally-deficient pavement conditions along with RI threshold ranges per thickness group. Equations were derived to produce RI threshold values for pavement thicknesses less than 12 in. The equations may be used for pavements thicker than 12 in., but with caution. For large segments of roadways, algorithms were provided to assess whether pavements were structurally- sound or structurally-deficient based on RI.
  Authors: Gaspard, Kevin; Zhang, Zhongjie; Elseifi, Mostafa A.
  Authors: Gaspard, Kevin; Zhang, Zhongjie; Elseifi, Mostafa A.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 809
  Paper Number: 13-0544
• Methodology to Assess the Causes and Probability of Road Pavement Structural Failure
  Abstract: This paper presents a method to predict the probability of structural failure of road pavements using information contained in road datasets. Expert knowledge was used to develop failure charts which identify the potential factors that may contribute towards pavement failure. A computational technique, known as a Support Vector Machine, was built to use this information to determine from the datasets the probability of failure of individual road sections. With this prediction comes an indication of the predominant failure types, the causes of structural failure and the risk profile of a road network. The usefulness of the approach was demonstrated on a dataset taken from the New Zealand Long Term Pavement Performance study of State Highways, which predominantly consist of low-volume, flexible, unbound granular pavements. The analysis of the dataset showed that the network was in a good condition. It also identified a small number of pavement sections with a high likelihood of failure. Furthermore, the application of the failure paths examined the three predominant failure types occurring on the network and identified their possible causes. Rutting appears to be significantly influenced by the road pavement strength, cracking seems to be affected notably by the environment (i.e. water ingress) and shear failure is caused primarily by the combination of traffic, pavement composition and strength. In addition, it was confirmed that measured functional pavement condition alone is not a good identifier of failure, and that the inclusion of a parameter related to strength, such as pavement deflection, is essential.
  Authors: Schlotjes, Megan Rose; Burrow, Michael Peter Nicholas; Evdorides, Harry; Henning, Theuns F. P.
  Authors: Schlotjes, Megan Rose; Burrow, Michael Peter Nicholas; Evdorides, Harry; Henning, Theuns F. P.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 809
  Paper Number: 13-3175
• Improved Method to Evaluate the Pavement Structural Number Using FWD Deflections
  Abstract: Pavement structural number (SN) is used in various applications worldwide. One application is the structural condition index (SCI). SCI is developed for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to support maintenance and rehabilitation decisions at the network level. SCI is calculated as ratio of two SN values (effective SN/required SN). To evaluate the effective SN, a direct method of determining the SN from FWD testing has been used. This paper seeks to increase the SCI’s accuracy by improving the method of determining the effective SN from FWD deflection data. A new equation was developed by modifying the equation previously used, and new coefficients for four different flexible pavement types are presented. The new equation is improved by using a large database consisting of hypothetical pavement structures and responses, and by adding new variables to consider the depth to a rigid layer. This effort benefits not only TxDOT, allowing increased accuracy of SCI implementation, but also helps other agencies improve their evaluation of the SN by FWD deflection at the network level. In this study, only surface treated pavement and asphalt concrete pavement (ACP) were evaluated. Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement was not addressed.
  Authors: Kim, Moo Yeon; Kim, Dae Young; Murphy, Mike
  Authors: Kim, Moo Yeon; Kim, Dae Young; Murphy, Mike
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 809
  Paper Number: 13-4839
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Integrating Rolling-Wheel Deflectometer Measurements into Pavement Management Systems Using Multivariate Statistical Methods and Fuzzy Logic
  Authors: Gaspard, Kevin
  Authors: Gaspard, Kevin
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 809
  Paper Number: 13-0544
• Methodology to Assess the Causes and Probability of Road Pavement Structural Failure
  Authors: Schlotjes, Megan
  Authors: Schlotjes, Megan
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 809
  Paper Number: 13-3175
• Improved Method to Evaluate the Pavement Structural Number Using FWD Deflections
  Authors: Kim, Moo Yeon
  Authors: Kim, Moo Yeon
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Design; Pavements
  Session: 809
  Paper Number: 13-4839