Design of

flexible pavements

Xueyan Liu

Section of Pavement Engineering

Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences
TU Delft

CT4860 Flexible Pavement Design 1

 Design of
flexible pavements

Characterization of HMA
mixture response

Xueyan Liu

CT4860 Flexible Pavement Design 2

  HMA performance tests

CT4860 Pavement Design 3

  HMA tests

 Mixture characterization tests

• used to determine/describe fundamental HMA mixture
parameters :

 bulk specific gravity

 theoretical maximum specific gravity
 binder content

 Performance tests
• used to predict performance of HMAs in terms of :
 rutting resistance
 fatigue
 thermal cracking
 moisture sensitivity

CT4860 Pavement Design 4

  Input Levels

Input Determination of Input Knowledge of Input

Level Values Parameter
Project/Segment Specific
1 Measurements—Lab, WIM, Good
FWD
Correlations/Regression
2 Equations, Regional Values— Fair
CBR, R-Value, Dynamic Cone
Penetrometer
3 Soil Classifications, Typical
Fair - Poor
values

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  HMA characterization tests
 Measured properties Level 1

CT4860 Pavement Design 6

  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A

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  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 Measures the stress-strain relationship under a
continuous sinusoidal loading as expressed by E*

 Sample dimensions: 100 mm diameter by 150 mm tall

 Performed at a range of temperatures and frequencies depending on PG

 NCHRP Reports 1-37A, 465, (513), 614

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  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A Level 1
depend on aggregate gradation,
binder content & air void content

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  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 614

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  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A Level 1

By assuming:
C
 
T   
 T
 r 

mixture specific master curve

  0.313351, c  1.255882
CT4860 Pavement Design 11
  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A

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  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A Levels 2&3

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  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A Global Aging System

 Provides a series of models for adjusting the viscosity of the original binder to
short and long term aging conditions

 Expressing the shift factors as a function of binder viscosity allows the

consideration of binder aging using the GAS

 Four models :

CT4860 Pavement Design 14

  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A Global Aging System

 Short term aging

 Brainfood

CT4860 Pavement Design 15

  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A Global Aging System

 Short term aging : during mixing & compaction

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  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A Global Aging System

 Surface conditions aging

CT4860 Pavement Design 17

  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A Global Aging System

 Influence of air-voids

25oC
CT4860 Pavement Design 18
  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 NCHRP 1-37A Global Aging System

 Influence of depth

CT4860 Pavement Design 19

  Performance tests
 Rutting resistance : dynamic modulus
 Summary

In summary, dynamic modulus master curves in the form of a

sigmoidal function can be developed either by shifting laboratory
test data or by using the dynamic modulus equation. In both cases,
the resulting shift factors can be expressed as a function of binder
viscosity. Expressing the shift factors as a function of binder
viscosity allows the consideration of binder aging using the Global
Aging System. The Global Aging System provides a series of
models for adjusting the viscosity of the original binder for short-
term aging that occurs during mixing and lay-down operations and
for long-term aging during service.

CT4860 Pavement Design 20

  HMA characterization tests
 Measured properties Level 1

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  Performance tests
 Cracking resistance : tensile strength
 NCHRP 1-37A Level 1& 2

CT4860 Pavement Design 22

• material model verification

tension compression

xx

x
y
Annual Meeting ISAP TC on Constitutive Modelling 23
 -10.0

-2500

-2000

0.0
-1500
Force (N)

-1000

-500

0
0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8
Vertical displacement (mm)

10.0

xx CAPA-3D

Annual Meeting ISAP TC on Constitutive Modelling 24

 -10.0

-2500

-2000

0.0
-1500
Force (N)

-1000

-500

0
0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8
Vertical displacement (mm)

10.0

xx CAPA-3D

Annual Meeting ISAP TC on Constitutive Modelling 25

 -10.0

-2500

-2000

0.0
-1500
Force (N)

-1000

-500

0
0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8
Vertical displacement (mm)

10.0

xx CAPA-3D

Annual Meeting ISAP TC on Constitutive Modelling 26

 • ITT simulation

3500

3000 Data_0.1

2500 Model_0.1
Force [N]

2000 Data_0.5

1500 Model_0.5

1000
Data_0.85

500
Model_0.85

0
0 5 10 15 20
Vertical displacement [mm]

Annual Meeting ISAP TC on Constitutive Modelling 27

  Performance tests
 Cracking resistance : tensile strength
 NCHRP 1-37A Level 1& 2

 Performed at -10 0C and 12.5 mm/min

 AASHTO T 322

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  Performance tests
 Cracking resistance : tensile strength
 NCHRP 1-37A Level 3
On the basis of regression :

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  Performance tests
 Cracking resistance : creep compliance
 NCHRP 1-37A Level 1& 2
 Performed at 3 temperatures for100 sec

 AASHTO T 322 D t    t  

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  Performance tests
 Cracking resistance : creep compliance
 NCHRP 1-37A Level 3
On the basis of regression :

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  Determination of material properties for new paving materials
o HMA mixtures
 Poisson’s ratio
 Level 2: User-Defined Input

Under Level 2, there are three sublevels to estimate the Poisson’s ratio. These are
explained below.

 Level 2a
0.35
ac  0.15   a bEac 
1 e

CT4860 Pavement Design 32

  Determination of material properties for new paving materials
o HMA mixtures
 Poisson’s ratio
 Level 2b: Use equation to estimate Poisson ratio:

0.35
ac  0.15 
1 e
 1.63 3.84 x106 Eac 

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  Determination of material properties for new paving materials
o HMA mixtures
 Poisson’s ratio

 Level 2c: Select from typical range of ac

CT4860 Pavement Design 34

  Determination of material properties for new paving materials
o HMA mixtures
 Poisson’s ratio
 Level 3: Typical Poisson’s Ratio

CT4860 Pavement Design 35

 Design of
flexible pavements

Xueyan Liu

CT4860 Flexible Pavement Design 36