Performance Analysis of Overlays for Flexible Pavement

Abstract

Pavements deteriorate with time in absence of adequate maintenance. The rate of deterioration depends upon a number of factors including traffic loading (magnitude of wheel load and its repetitions), climate, drainage, environmental factors and the initial of pavement structure. The design life of pavement system determines the way in which the surface would deform under the given traffic and environmental conditions. This in turn would establish the longitudinal and transverse profile of the riding surface which has to be maintained within acceptable standards, since it influences passenger comfort, vehicle maintenance, pavement life, etc. In the present study, a number of parameters were considered in developing a model that predicts the design life of flexible pavements. These factors were Characteristic Deflection (Dc), Rut Depth Index (RDI), Cracking Index (CI), Traffic Volume (V), Roughness Index (RI). For this purpose, 4 road test sections were chosen. These five factors have been either measured and observed in the field or computed every 3 months from January 2005 until October 2009. 4 Models were developed for the 4 test sections and R²(adj) was between 92.1% and 95.3%.