Mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide flexible pavement performance prediction models for Montana / prepared for the State of Montana Department of Transportation, prepared by Harold L. VonQuintus ; James S. Moulthrop

2007·2.2 MB·English

by  Von Quintus, H. L.(Harold L.)

MECHANISTIC-EMPIRICAL PAVEMENT
DESIGN GUIDE FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT
PERFORMANCE PREDICTION MODELS
FOR MONTANA: VOLUME I EXECUTIVE
RESEARCH SUMMARY
FHWA/MT-07-008/8158-1
Final Report
prepared for
THE STATE OF MONTANA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
in cooperation with
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
August 2007
prepared by
Harold L. VonQuintus, PE
Applied Research Associates, Inc.
James S. Moulthrop, PE
Fugro Consultants, Inc.
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
You are free to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work; make derivative works; make
commercial use of the work under the condition that you give the original author and sponsor
credit. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this
work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the sponsor. Your fair
use and other rights are in no way affected by the above.
Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide
Flexible Pavement Performance Prediction Models
for Montana

Volume I
Executive Research Summary

Prepared for:
Research Programs
Montana Department of Transportation
2701 Prospect Avenue
Helena, Montana 59620

Prepared by:
Harold L. Von Quintus, PE, Applied Research Associates, Inc.
James S. Moulthrop, PE, Fugro Consultants, Inc.
Fugro Consultants, Inc.
8613 Cross Park Drive
Austin, Texas 78754
Project 1101-3074

August 2007
Technical Report Documentation Page
1. Report No. 2. Government 3. Recipient's Catalog
Accession No. No.
FHWA/MT-07-008/8158-1
4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date

Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide Flexible August 2007
Pavement Performance Prediction Models 6. Performing Organization Code
Volume I Executive Research Summary
7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No.

Harold L. Von Quintus, PE, Applied Research Assoc. Inc.
James S. Moulthrop, PE, Fugro Consultants, Inc.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

Fugro Consultants, Inc. 11. Contract or Grant No.
8613 Cross Park Drive
Austin TX 78754 Montana Department of Transportation Contract HWY-
30604-DT, Project #8158
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Research Programs Final Report 2001 - 2007
Montana Department of Transportation 14. Sponsoring Agency Code
2701 Prospect Avenue
PO Box 201001 5401
Helena MT 59620-1001
15. Supplementary Notes

Research performed in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation and the United States Department
of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. This report can be found at
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/research/projects/pave/pave_model.shtml.

16. Abstract
The objective of this research study was to develop performance characteristics or variables (e.g., ride quality, rutting,
fatigue cracking, transverse cracking) of flexible pavements in Montana, and to use these characteristics in the
implementation of the distress prediction models or transfer functions included in the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement
Design Guide (MEPDG) software that was developed under NCHRP Project 1-37A. Reliable distress prediction
models will enable the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to use Mechanistic-Empirical (ME) based
principles for flexible pavement design and in managing their highway network. The work conducted within this study
included using the MEPDG software to develop local calibration factors in the use of that software for Montana
climate, structures, and materials for flexible pavements. The report is comprised of three volumes: Volume I –
Executive Research Summary; Volume II – Reference Manual (which includes Selection of Distress Prediction
Models, Traffic Characterization and Analyses, and Database for Calibration of ME Distress Prediction Models); and
Volume III – Field Guide – Calibration and User’s Guide for the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide.
17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement
Flexible Pavements, Pavement Design, Mechanistic- Unrestricted. This document is available through the
Empirical, Fatigue Cracking, Rutting, Thermal Cracking, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA
IRI, Smoothness, Surface Initiated Cracks, Bottom 21161.
Initiated Cracks, Calibration, Transfer Functions, Distress
Prediction Models.
19. Security Classif. (of this 20. Security Classif. (of this 21. No. of 22. Price
report) page) Pages

Unclassified. Unclassified. 129

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Montana Department of Transportation Fugro Consultants, Inc.
Performance Prediction Models, Contract 65A0151 Fugro 1101-3074
Volume I: Executive Research Summary

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT (MDT)

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Montana Department of
Transportation and the United States Department of Transportation in the interest of information
exchange. The State of Montana and the United States Government assume no liability of its
contents or use thereof.

The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and
accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official
policies of the Montana Department of Transportation or the United States Department of
Transportation.

The State of Montana and the United States Government do not endorse products of
manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear herein only because they are
considered essential to the object of this document.

This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

ALTERNATIVE FORMAT STATEMENT (MDT)

MDT attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a
person participating in any service, program, or activity of the Department. Alternative
accessible formats of this information will be provided upon request. For further information, call
[phone], TTY [phone], or Montana Relay at 711.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report was prepared under sponsorship of the Montana Department of Transportation. The
project team recognizes and appreciates the services provided by the Montana Department of
Transportation. These services included profile and deflection basins measurements, materials
sampling, traffic control, and assistance with project activities to recover construction properties
from selected project segments. Other individuals and organizations involved in the work and in
preparation and review of the report are listed below.

Dragos Andrei, PhD, PE Weng-On Tam, PhD, PE
Brian Killingsworth, PE Amy Simpson, PhD, PE
Matthew Witczak, PhD Mark Hallenbeck, PhD

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Montana Department of Transportation Fugro Consultants, Inc.
Performance Prediction Models, Contract 65A0151 Fugro 1101-3074
Volume I: Executive Research Summary

SI* (MODERN METRIC) CONVERSION FACTORS
APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS
Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol
LENGTH
in inches 25.4 millimeters mm
ft feet 0.305 meters m
yd yards 0.914 meters m
mi miles 1.61 kilometers km
AREA
in2 square inches 645.2 square millimeters mm2
ft2 square feet 0.093 square meters m2
yd2 square yard 0.836 square meters m2
ac acres 0.405 hectares ha
mi2 square miles 2.59 square kilometers km2
VOLUME
fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters mL
gal gallons 3.785 liters L
ft3 cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m3
yd3 cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m3
[NOTE: volumes greater than 1,000 shall be shown in m3]
MASS
oz ounces 28.35 grams g
lb pounds 0.454 kilograms kg
T short tons (2000 lb) 0.907 megagrams (metric tons) Mg (or t)
TEMPERATURE (exact degrees)
oF Fahrenheit 5 (F-32)/9 Celsius oC
or (F-32)/1.8
ILLUMINATION
fc foot-candles 10.76 lux lx
fl foot-Lamberts 3.426 candela/m2 cd/m2
FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS
lbf pounds 4.45 Newtons N
lbf/in2 (psi) pounds per square inch 6.89 kiloPascals kPa
k/in2 (ksi) kips per square inch 6.89 megaPascals MPa
DENSITY
lb/ft3 (pcf) pounds per cubic foot 16.02 kilograms per cubic meter kg/m3
APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS FROM SI UNITS
Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol
LENGTH
mm millimeters 0.039 inches in
m meters 3.28 feet ft
m meters 1.090 yards yd
km kilometers 0.621 miles mi
AREA
mm2 square millimeters 0.0016 square inches in2
m2 square meters 10.764 square feet ft2
m2 square meters 1.195 square yards yd2
ha hectares 2.47 acres ac
km2 square kilometers 0.386 square miles mi2
VOLUME
mL Milliliters 0.034 fluid ounces fl oz
L liters 0.264 gallons gal
m3 cubic meters 35.314 cubic feet ft3
m3 cubic meters 1.307 cubic yards yd3
MASS
g grams 0.035 ounces oz
kg kilograms 2.202 pounds lb
Mg (or t) megagrams (metric tons) 1.103 short tons (2000 lb) T
TEMPERATURE (exact degrees)
oC Celsius 1.8C+32 Fahrenheit oF
ILLUMINATION
lx lux 0.0929 foot-candles fc
cd/m2 candela/m2 0.2919 foot-Lamberts fl
FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS
N Newtons 0.225 pounds lbf
kPa kiloPascals 0.145 pounds per square inch lbf/in2 (psi)
MPa megaPascals 0.145 kips per square inch k/in2 (ksi)
DENSITY
kg/m3 pounds per cubic foot 0.062 kilograms per cubic meter lb/ft3 (pcf)
*SI is the symbol for the International System of Units. Appropriate rounding should be made to comply with Section 4 of ASTM E 380. (Revised March 2003)
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Montana Department of Transportation Fugro Consultants, Inc.
Performance Prediction Models, Contract 65A0151 Fugro 1101-3074
Volume I: Executive Research Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I-1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................ 1
I-1.1 BACKGROUND............................................................................................................. 1
I-1.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVE................................................................................................. 2
I-1.3 ME BASED DESIGN PRINCIPLES............................................................................... 2
I-1.4 SCOPE OF WORK AND APPROACH........................................................................... 6
I-1.5 ORGANIZATION OF PROJECT DOCUMENTATION.................................................... 7
CHAPTER I-2 EXPERIMENTAL PLAN..................................................................................... 9
I-2.1 EXPERIMENTAL FACTORIAL...................................................................................... 9
I-2.2 TEST SECTIONS.........................................................................................................10
I-2.2.1 Test Sections in Montana.......................................................................................11
I-2.2.2 Test Sections In Adjacent States...........................................................................11
I-2.3 FIELD TESTING PLAN AND INVESTIGATIONS.........................................................14
I-2.4 LABORATORY TESTING PLAN..................................................................................15
I-2.5 TEST SECTION MONITORING PROGRAM................................................................15
I-2.5.1 Falling Weight Deflectometer Tests........................................................................15
I-2.5.2 Longitudinal and Transverse Profiles.....................................................................15
I-2.5.3 Distress Surveys....................................................................................................16
CHAPTER I-3 PERFORMANCE INDICATOR PREDICTION MODELS...................................17
I-3.1 PERFORMANCE DATA FOR CALIBRATION..............................................................17
I-3.2 LOAD RELATED CRACKING......................................................................................22
I-3.2.1 Area Fatigue Cracking – Bottom-Up Cracking........................................................22
I-3.2.2 Longitudinal Cracking Within Wheel Path – Surface-Down Cracking.....................24
I-3.3 NON-LOAD RELATED CRACKING – TRANSVERSE CRACKING..............................25
I-3.4 SURFACE DISTORTION – RUTTING..........................................................................26
I-3.4.1 Permanent Deformation in HMA Layers.................................................................26
I-3.4.2 Permanent Deformation in Unbound Layers..........................................................27
I-3.5 HMA MIXTURE DISINTEGRATION DISTRESSES......................................................28
I-3.5.1 Raveling.................................................................................................................28
I-3.5.2 Block Cracking.......................................................................................................29
I-3.6 SMOOTHNESS – LONGITUDINAL PROFILES...........................................................29
I-3.7 SUMMARY – HMA MIXTURE PROPERTIES FOR DISTRESS TRANSFER
FUNCTIONS.........................................................................................................................29
CHAPTER I-4 CLIMATE CHARACTERIZATION.....................................................................32
CHAPTER I-5 TRUCK TRAFFIC CHARACTERIZATION.........................................................35
I-5.1 TRUCK CATEGORIES.................................................................................................35
I-5.2 WHEEL AND AXLE LOAD CONFIGURATIONS..........................................................35
I-5.3 TRUCK VOLUME DISTRIBUTIONS AND PATTERNS................................................37
I-5.3.1 Truck Classification Volume Distribution Factors....................................................37
I-5.3.2 Seasonal Distribution Factors................................................................................38
I-5.4 AXLE LOAD DISTRIBUTIONS AND PATTERNS.........................................................39
CHAPTER I-6 MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION.................................................................41
I-6.1 FIELD INVESTIGATIONS............................................................................................41
I-6.1.1 Material Recovery – Cores and Borings.................................................................42
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Montana Department of Transportation Fugro Consultants, Inc.
Performance Prediction Models, Contract 65A0151 Fugro 1101-3074
Volume I: Executive Research Summary

I-6.1.2 Deflection Basin Tests...........................................................................................42
I-6.1.3 Backcalculation of Elastic Layer Modulus Values...................................................43
I-6.1.4 Comparison of FWD Equipment.............................................................................43
I-6.1.5 Profile Measurements............................................................................................51
I-6.1.6 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer Tests.......................................................................52
I-6.2 LABORATORY TESTS................................................................................................52
I-6.2.1 Unbound Materials and Soils.................................................................................52
I-6.2.2 Cement Treated Base Materials.............................................................................66
I-6.2.3 HMA Mixtures........................................................................................................66
I-6.3 MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION SUMMARY – LAYER PROPERTIES FOR
CALIBRATION AND VALIDATION........................................................................................80
I-6.3.1 Unbound Materials and Soils.................................................................................80
I-6.3.2 Cement Aggregate Mixtures...................................................................................85
I-6.3.3 HMA Mixtures........................................................................................................86
CHAPTER I-7 CALIBRATION REFINEMENT OF ME PAVEMENT DESIGN PROCEDURES
FOR MONTANA ...................................................................................................................89
I-7.1 CALIBRATION APPROACH – STATISTICAL MODELING AND RATIONALITY
ASSESSMENT......................................................................................................................89
I-7.2 CALIBRATION DATABASE..........................................................................................90
I-7.3 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS FROM THE PERFORMANCE DATA......................91
I-7.4 RUT DEPTH PREDICTION MODEL............................................................................93
I-7.4.1 Calibration Refinement Process for Predicted Rutting............................................93
I-7.4.2 Comparison of Predicted to Measured Total Rut Depths........................................96
I-7.5 LOAD RELATED CRACKING, ALLIGATOR CRACKING & LONGITUDINAL
CRACKING IN WHEEL PATHS.............................................................................................98
I-7.5.1 Calibration Refinement Process for Load Related Fatigue Cracking......................99
I-7.5.2 Comparison of Predicted to Measured Load Related Cracking............................102
I-7.6 NON-LOAD RELATED TRANSVERSE CRACKING...................................................107
I-7.7 HMA MIXTURE DISINTEGRATION...........................................................................107
I-7.8 SMOOTHNESS..........................................................................................................108
CHAPTER I-8 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................110
I-8.1 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS...............................................................................110
I-8.1.1 Rut Depth Prediction Model.................................................................................110
I-8.1.2 Fatigue Cracking Prediction Model for Flexible Pavements and HMA Overlays –
Alligator Cracking or Bottom-Up Fatigue Cracking...........................................................111
I-8.1.3 Fatigue Cracking Prediction Model for Semi-Rigid Pavements.............................111
I-8.1.4 Fatigue Cracking Prediction Model – Longitudinal Cracking or Top-Down Fatigue
Cracking..........................................................................................................................112
I-8.1.5 Transverse Cracking Prediction Model.................................................................112
I-8.1.6 Smoothness Prediction Models............................................................................113
I-8.2 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE CALIBRATION STUDIES..............................113
I-8.2.1 MEPDG Distress Prediction Models Requiring Future Updates...........................113
I-8.2.2 Activities and Schedule for Future Calibration Updates........................................114
CHAPTER I-9 REFERENCES...............................................................................................116

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Montana Department of Transportation Fugro Consultants, Inc.
Performance Prediction Models, Contract 65A0151 Fugro 1101-3074
Volume I: Executive Research Summary

LIST OF TABLES

Table I-1 Hierarchical Input Levels Included in the MEPDG..................................................... 6
Table I-2 Cell Identification for the Experimental Factorial........................................................ 9
Table I-3 Number of Test Sections Included within Each Cell of the Experimental Factorial....10
Table I-4 LTPP and Non-LTPP Test Sections Located in Montana.........................................12
Table I-5 LTPP Test Sections Located in States and Canadian Provinces Adjacent to Montana
.....................................................................................................................................14
Table I-6 Laboratory Tests to be Completed on the Materials Recovered from the Non-LTPP
Test Sections Located in Montana................................................................................16
Table I-7 Summary of Distress Surveys for the Test Sections Located in Montana.................18
Table I-8 Summary of Distress Surveys for the Test Sections Located in States and Canadian
Provinces Adjacent to Montana....................................................................................20
Table 1-9 Performance Indicator Prediction Models Considered for Use in Montana..............30
Table I-10 Material Properties Needed for Performance Indicator Prediction Models...............30
Table I-11 Climatic Parameters and Information Needed for Performance Indicator Prediction
Models..........................................................................................................................31
Table I-12 Weather Stations that are Available in the MEPDG Software for Montana..............32
Table I-13 Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation of the Test Sections Located in Montana for
Selecting Weather Stations...........................................................................................33
Table I-14 Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation of the Test Sections Located in States and
Canadian Provinces Adjacent to Montana for Selecting Weather Stations....................34
Table I-15 Summary of Truck Traffic Input Parameters and Values Used in Verification and
Calibration of the Distress Transfer Functions for Montana...........................................37
Table I-16 Primary Truck Type Normalized Volume Distribution Factors Recommended for Use
in Montana....................................................................................................................38
Table I-17 Recommended Monthly Distribution Factors for Use in Montana............................39
Table I-18 Summary of Backcalculated Elastic Layer Modulus Values for Each of the Test
Sections Located in Montana........................................................................................44
Table I-19 Summary of Results from the Classification Tests Performed on the Base Materials
Recovered from the LTPP Test Sections in Montana....................................................54
Table I-20 Summary of Results from the Classification Tests Performed on the Subgrade Soils
Recovered from the LTPP and Non-LTPP Test Sections in Montana...........................55
Table I-21 Summary of Moisture-Density and Resilient Modulus Test Results for the Unbound
Aggregate Base Materials Recovered from the LTPP and Non-LTPP Test Sections in
Montana .......................................................................................................................56
Table I-22 Summary of Moisture-Density and Resilient Modulus Test Results for the Subgrade
Soils Recovered from the LTPP and Non-LTPP Test Sections in Montana...................57
Table I-23 Summary of the Regression Constants from the Constitutive Equation for the
Repeated Load Resilient Modulus Test Results for the Non-LTPP Sites......................64
Table I-24 Summary of CAM Properties Measured in the Laboratory on Cores or Portion of
Cores Recovered from the Non-LTPP Sites in Montana...............................................67
Table I-25 Summary of Laboratory Measured IDT Resilient Modulus for the HMA Mixtures
Sampled from the Non-LTPP Test Sections in Montana...............................................71
Table I-26 Summary of Laboratory Measured Tensile Strengths and Tensile Strain at Failure for
the HMA Mixtures Sampled from the Non-LTPP Test Sections in Montana..................72
Table I-27 Summary of the Laboratory Creep Compliance Tests for HMA Mixtures Recovered
from the Non-LTPP Test Sections Located in Montana.................................................73
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Montana Department of Transportation Fugro Consultants, Inc.
Performance Prediction Models, Contract 65A0151 Fugro 1101-3074
Volume I: Executive Research Summary

Table I-28 IDT Resilient Modulus Model Parameters for the Non-LTPP HMA Mixtures Sampled
from the Montana Test Sections...................................................................................78
Table I-29 Tensile Strain at Failure Model Parameters for the Non-LTPP HMA Mixtures
Sampled from the Montana Test Sections....................................................................79
Table I-30 Summary of the Adjustment Factors Recommended for Use in Montana to Convert
Backcalculated Layer Modulus Values to Laboratory Equivalent Resilient Modulus
Values..........................................................................................................................82
Table I-31 Summary of the DCP Adjustment Factors Recommended for Use in Montana to
Convert the Elastic Layer Modulus Values to Laboratory Equivalent Modulus Values..85
Table I-32 Fine Aggregate Angularity Index Used to Adjust Permanent Deformation
Parameters, F .........................................................................................................95
Index
Table I-33 Coarse Aggregate Angularity Index Used to Adjust Permanent Deformation
Parameters, C .........................................................................................................95
Index
Table I-34 Summary of the Bias and Standard Error for the Rutting Prediction Model Using the
Montana Calibration Factors for Unbound and HMA Rutting.........................................98
Table I-35 Summary of the Bias and Standard Error for the Alligator Cracking Prediction Model
Using the Montana Calibration Factors.......................................................................107

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