Performance Prediction of Flexible Pavement

Abstract

Roadways are the major form of transport. Pavements are of major importance in a highway infrastructure. Highways and important roads are extensively flexible pavements. These flexible pavements deteriorate much faster than their design life. There are many factors which contribute to the deterioration of pavements. In this thesis, an attempt has been made to find out an equation which predicts the pavement deterioration over the years. By knowing the deterioration extent, we could predict the performance of the pavement. For this, all the factors contributing for the deterioration are taken into account. Few road networks are selected and Condition data, Traffic data, Pavement composition data, Road inventory of these are studied for the past two editions. Pavement Condition Index, Structural number are found out. Homogeneous sectioning is performed and then modelling is done. Modelling is done to find out the Roughness/Distresses (Cracking, Potholing) in the pavement. The results obtained from modelling are compared with the one obtained from survey data in that particular year. Graphs are drawn and a trend-line is extrapolated. This trendline gives us the equation which helps us to predict the future condition of the distress/roughness, which helps in predicting the condition of the pavement.