Highway engineers have addressed the problem of pavement maintenance by developing remaining life assessment methods based on structural analysis of computer simulations of pavements tested in the field by non-destructive testing devices such as the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD). However the methodologies followed have been shown to be unable to provide accurate solutions without undue reliance on the knowledge of the expert engineer who conducts the analysis. A knowledge-based system (KBS) is proposed to "inject" engineering knowledge into the conventional techniques. It has been established on a systematic basis and seeks to cover the variety of the issues which may be encountered in such systems. In its prototype form the system consists of three parts: 1. The finite element analytical program ROSTRA-1. 2. A deductive database. 3. A back-analysis subsystem. The analytical program carries out the analysis of the pavements tested in the field. The deductive database holds the properties of a variety of paving materials and establishes the analytical model. The back-analysis subsystem seeks to perform the tasks required for the analysis of the FWD deflection bowl. To build this system, the POPLOG-Prolog computer language operated under VAX/VMS was selected to work in connection with the analytical program. An evaluation procedure was carried out to investigate the performance characteristics of the prototype system. The results indicated that the POPLOG-Prolog development environment is not the ideal tool for such an application. In addition, it appears unlikely that there is any other development tool available which is markedly more effective than that used. However it is felt that similar functions to those required by the POPLOG-Prolog environment, may be implemented using conventional programming. To permit this, a logical design of a KBS to conduct this task is presented.

The performance of roads is known to progressively reduce as a result of separate and interactive effects of climate and traffic. Existing decision support tools such as HDM-4, which are widely used to investigate long-term road maintenance strategies, utilise past climate data instead of future climate predictions. Uncertainties inherent in future climate predictions however imply that application of such tools could lead to outputs that are not robust in light of climate change. The objectives of the study were threefold: firstly, to develop a rut depth prediction model that considered potential effects of future climate; secondly, to formulate a framework for quantification of uncertainties; and finally, to demonstrate the application of the tools developed using a case study. The model was developed using data provided by the UK Highways Agency and UK Climate Impacts Programme. The methodology used was based on Bayesian regression. The developed model was found to perform better than the current asphalt surfacing rut depth model implemented in HDM-4 when future climate data was used. It was concluded that probabilistic outputs from the tools developed including deterioration rates, pavement condition and discounted maintenance costs for each maintenance strategy, and future climate and socio-economic scenarios provide a useful decision making framework for considering alternative strategies for road maintenance on the basis of the level of climate change risks that can be tolerated.

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Flexible pavements are environmentally sensitive elements of infrastructure and their performance can be influenced by climate. Climate change poses a challenge to design and management of flexible pavements in the future. Climate change can occur worldwide and thus all flexible pavements can be exposed to the impact. However, an assessment framework is not available to evaluate the impact of climate change on flexible pavements in terms of performance, maintenance decision-making and the subsequent life-cycle costs (LCC). This research has attempted to develop such a framework. Case studies on six flexible pavement sections from the United States were performed to demonstrate the application of the framework. The framework started with the investigation of climate change using IPCC’s (Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change) climate change projections. Combinations of climate change projections and local historical climate were adopted as climatic inputs for the prediction of pavement performance. The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) was used for prediction of pavement performance because it can provide reliable performance predictions with consideration of climatic factors. Pavement performance predictions were applied to schedule maintenance interventions. Maintenance effects of treatments were considered in maintenance decision-making. Maintenance effect models of International Roughness Index (IRI) and rutting were validated using pavement condition survey data from Virginia. With selected climate related LCC components, three maintenance interventions were optimised using a genetic algorithm to achieve the minimum LCC. Eventually the outputs of the system including pavement performance, intervention strategies, and LCC can be compared under various climate change and baseline scenarios. Hence, the differences in performance, decision-making, and LCC due to climate change can be derived. The conclusions were drawn based on the scheme of maintenance decision-making. If flexible pavements are not maintained (Alternative 0), an increase in LCC will be incurred by climate change due to an increase in road roughness (IRI). For pavements maintained with strict thresholds (Alternative 1), climate change may lead to a significant reduction in the service life when the maintenance is triggered by climate sensitive distress. However, benefit can be gained from decreasing LCC as the earlier triggered maintenance may result in less average IRI. As a consequence, user costs, which can be associated with IRI, can be reduced. Hence, LCC can be reduced as user costs usually dominate LCC. However, the net present value (NPV) of agency costs can be increased due to the early intervention. For pavements with optimised maintenance (Alternative 2), the LCC is almost unaffected by climate change. However, the type or application time of interventions may need to be changed in order to achieve this. Furthermore, the balance between agency and user costs did not seem to be influenced by climate change for Alternative 2. Agencies should be aware that maintenance optimisation can significantly reduce the LCC and make the best use of treatments to mitigate the effects of climate change on flexible pavements. Pavement maintained with strict triggers may require earlier interventions as a result of climate change but can gain benefit in LCC. However, this indicates that a responsive maintenance regime may not take full advantage of interventions and that maintenance could be planned to be performed earlier in order to achieve minimised LCC. Due to climate change, road users may spend more on fuels, lubricants and tyre wear on flexible pavement sections that do not receive any maintenance treatments.

Mostrou-se que notas atribuídas por motoristas e passageiros podem ser usadas como dados para avaliação de comportamento da superfície de pavimentos durante o tráfego de veículos. Também, através de estudo sobre a história de avaliação docomportamento da superfície de pavimentos, recorda-se que o conhecimento sobre essas variáveis pode contribuir para identificar relações entre o grau de satisfação de quem usa rodovias e características da estrutura e manutenção de pavimentos,os defeitos da superfície de vias. Relatam-se conclusões de análises estatísticas efetuadas para comparar médias de notas atribuídas, por avaliadores treinados, a segmentos de ruas de São Carlos-SP e índices padronizados para mesma escala de medida, obtidos a partir de características da superfície de pavimentos, visando sustentar conclusões para indicar que processos de avaliação a partir de notas atribuídas por avaliadores poderão fornecer resultados de classificação de estado de pavimento compatíveis com a cultura sobre conforto e segurança durante o tráfego de veículos daqueles que usam as vias. / It was showed that the scores from drivers and passengers should be useful as input to evaluate the behavior of pavement surface during traffic of vehicles. Also, studying the history of the pavement surface evaluation it was recalled that the knowledge of such variables should contribute to identify relationships among the road user satisfaction and the distress of the pavement surface. And it was reported some conclusion obtained from statistical analysis to compare scores media attributed by evaluators to street segments of the city of Sao Carlos SP with standardized index trying to support conclusions to indicate that the evaluation processes done from evaluator\'s scores should conduct to pavement condition indexes closed to the culture on comfort and security of traffic from the users of the roadway.

The Asphalt Pavement Analyzer (APA) device was used to characterize the impact of various mix factors on the development of permanent deformation in dense-graded mixes given a standard compactive effort. Factors included two aggregate sizes, three VMA levels, two fines contents, three binder contents and four binder types. All specimens received the same compactive effort (100 gyrations) using the Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC). For some tests, testing temperatures followed the standard APA test protocol (64C) and for some others, the test temperature was set at the high temperature of standard performance asphalt binder grade (e.g. 70C for a PG 70-22 asphalt binder). Statistical results showed that increased binder content increased permanent deformation in the 19.0 mm dense graded mixes prepared with the PG 64-22 binder irrespective of the other mix parameters. These effects were not noted in the mixes prepared with PG 70-22 and PG 76-22 binders, when tested at 64C. However, the same effect was noted when mixes prepared with PG 70-22, PG 70-22 Modified and PG 76-22 binders were tested at the high temperature of standard performance asphalt binder grade. All mixes prepared with the stiffer binders showed very low permanent deformation when tested at the standard 64C regardless of the value of the other mix parameters. The statistical analysis of permanent deformation provides evidence that the mixes prepared with the PG 76-22 and PG 70-22 Modified binders perform better than mixes prepared with the PG 70-22 and the PG 64-22 binders. The effect of VMA on permanent deformation depends on the maximum aggregate size used, test temperature, binder type and the fines content. It was not possible to separate these interaction effects. The results of this study suggest that the APA is relatively insensitive to changes in mix properties within the range of variables studied, when using the standard APA test temperature (64C). However, the APA device is sensitive when the test temperature matches the high temperature of the standard performance binder grade (e.g. 70C for a PG 70-22 binder). Based on the results of this study, it appears that the APA can be used to indicate the rut resistance of a mixture. Although some of the mix factors have an interactive effect in the mixes, the APA has a potential to predict the relative rutting of the hot mix asphalt mixes even when polymer modified mixes are used, provided that testing is conducted at the appropriate test temperature. / Graduation date: 2005

Environmental factors such as temperature, air, and water can have a profound effect on the durability of asphalt concrete mixtures. In mild climates where good quality aggregates and asphalt cement are available, the major contribution to deterioration may be due to traffic loading and the resultant distress is manifested in the form of fatigue cracking, rutting, and raveling. But, when more severe climates are coupled with poor materials and traffic, premature failure may result. The objectives of this research are twofold and includes: (1) development of a test system to evaluate the most important factors influencing the water sensitivity of asphalt concrete mixtures; and (2) development of laboratory testing procedures that will predict field performance. This research also addresses the hypothesis that much of the water damage in pavements is due to water in the asphalt concrete void system. It is proposed that most of the water problems occur when voids are in the range of about 5% to 12%. Thus, the term "pessimum" voids is used to indicate that range (opposite of optimum). In order to evaluate the hypothesis and the numerous variables, the Environmental Conditioning System (ECS) was designed and fabricated. The ECS consists of three subsystems: (1) fluid conditioning, where the specimen is subjected to predetermined levels of water, air, or vapor and permeability is measured; (2) an environmental cabinet that controls the temperature and humidity and encloses the entire load frame; and (3) the loading system that determines resilient modulus (M[subscript n]) at various times during environmental cycling and also provides continuous repeated loading as needed. The ECS has been used to evaluate four core materials and also to investigate the relative importance of mixture variables thought to be significant. Many details regarding specimen preparation and testing procedures were evaluated during a "shakedown" of the ECS. As minor variables were resolved, a procedure emerged which appears to be reasonable and suitable. An experiment design for the four core mixtures was developed, and the overall experiment design included three ranges of void ( <5% low; 5-12%, pessimum; > 12% high). Six-hour cycles of wet-hot (60° C) and wet-freeze ( -18° C) are the principle conditioning variables, while monitoring MR at 25° C before and between cycling. A conventional testing procedure (AASHTO T-283) was also used on the core mixtures to provide a baseline for comparison. Results to date show that the ECS is capable of discerning the relative differences in "performance" such as MR. Three hot cycles and one freeze cycle appear to be sufficient to determine the projected relative performance when comparing different aggregates, asphalts, void levels, loading, etc. Based on these results, a water conditioning procedure has been recommended and also a procedure for water conditioning specimens prior to testing in fatigue, rutting, and thermal cracking. / Graduation date: 1992

Roads and parking lots make up the largest percentage of manmade impervious surfaces in the world. Large amounts of runoff contribute to wastewater treatment plant overloads and subsequent raw sewage discharges. A high runoff rate reduces the groundwater recharge potential, causes stream bed erosion, and flooding which frequently results in the loss of life, property and /or crop damage. High runoff rates also cause surface pollutants to be washed into storm sewers, streams and other waterways, causing damage to aquatic plant and animal life. Pourous pavements are one of the tools which environmental engineers, landscape architects and planners may use in design for stormwater management to help reduce runoff.Previous investigators have assumed that compressed concrete block unit pavements, on a sand bed and gravel base, with sand joints, become impermeable over time. This study sought to determine the runoff coefficient for a trafficked pavement that has been in use for ten months. A Variable Intensity Portable Rain Simulator was used in 120 tests on nine plots from a pedestrian plaza and three plots from an intersection of a neighborhood outlet and a city street, paved with Unidecor (or Cobble-) Pavers. Three rainfall intensity ranges were tested for each pavement type; 0 to 7 millimeters per hour, 7 to 15 millimeters per hour, and 15 to 30 millimeters per hour. For storms with an intensity level of twelve millimeters per hour average, the runoff coefficient on the plaza was significantly different than that for the intersection. Additionally, it was found that for the three intensity ranges tested the runoff was significantly different for each range.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Interlocking Concrete Pavements also known as block pavements are one of the integral parts of the pavement system in Europe. The use of ICP slowly extended to other countries including North America. As the usage increased the need for more scientific research was developed which resulted in the study of ICP design and analysis methods, construction practices and materials specifications. This thesis presents a research project involving the design, construction, instrumentation, performance modeling and other field tests of eight ICP crosswalks with four different design assemblies. The research projects were constructed at the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT) Test Track and at the University of Waterloo Ring Road. Each of the test sections is instrumented with structural and environmental sensors of sensors to monitor the pavement performance under heavy truck traffic, typical municipal loadings and to quantify environmental effects. A database is generated and the measured stress, strain, temperature and moisture measurements are analysed to evaluate the expected long-term performance of the structural components of ICP crosswalk designs.

No description available.