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During the past several years, state and federal
transportation agencies have invested substantial resources in constructing a
number of experimental pavement facilities to acquire response and performance
data under closely monitored loading and environmental conditions. While these
facilities were designed to address various specific questions regarding the
performance of rigid and flexible pavements, data and findings obtained at one
site often can be used to enhance data obtained at other sites and to resolve
issues in other jurisdictions. The most significant effort of this type was the
SHRP Long-Term Pavement Performance Program, a national research study in which
participating states across the country constructed new pavement sections
and/or monitored existing pavement sections containing specific combinations of
structural and material parameters believed to have a major impact on
performance. Other major pavement facilities constructed in recent years
include: MnRoad, WesTrack and the Ohio SHRP Test Road.
Pavement design
guidelines are currently being finalized in NCHRP Project 01-37A,
Development of the 2002 Guide for the Design of New and Rehabilitated
Pavement Structures. Concurrently, state DOTs, FHWA, universities,
and industry are developing mechanistic empirical design models for general
application and for specific geologic and climatic regions. Data obtained from
experimental pavement facilities can be used to validate and calibrate these
new procedures.
With the diversity of activities currently underway,
and with many mathematical and empirical models being developed over the past
decade, it is vital that a forum be provided to exchange recent developments
and findings on the structural performance of flexible and rigid pavements.
This forum, the International Conference on Highway Pavement Data, Analysis,
and Mechanistic Design Applications, brought together engineers, researchers,
and practitioners from state DOTs, FHWA, academia, the private sector,
and industry, to provide a platform for:
- The exchange of technologies related to the testing and
monitoring of in-service highway test sections and other related topics;
- The validation, calibration and implementation of
mechanistic design procedures; and
- The sharing of current activities, findings, experiences,
and pavement research.
Knowledge gained from this conference permitted attendees
and the agencies they represent to:
- Become aware of improved pavement design procedures;
- Become aware of sources of data for analysis;
- More reliably calibrate and validate existing design
procedures;
- Gain new insight regarding national and international
trends in pavement research.
In addition to the presentation of technical papers, the
conference included field trips and workshops on ground penertating radar
implementation and the 2002 guide for mechanistic design .
The
conference was highlighted by keynote addresses by Dr. Carl Monismith, Dr. Mike
Nunn and Mr. Paul Teng.
- Collection and Analysis of Response Data
- Development of Mechanistic/Empirical Models
- Calibration and Verification of Mechanistic/ Empirical
Models
- Accelerated Pavement Testing
- Non-Destructive Testing
- Two and Three-Dimensional Finite-Element Pavement Models
- Pavement Drainage
- Forensic Studies
- Load and Environmental Pavement Response
- Distress Models
The conference was co-sponsored through a National Pooled
Fund Study, led by Ohio DOT and FHWA, the Transportation Research Board, and
with participation from several other states. Additional support was provided
by the private sector.
Executive Committee Chair:
Mary Ellen Kimberlin, Assistant Director, Highway
Management, Ohio Department of Transportation (DOT) Members:
Robert Sack, New York State DOT Amir Hanna, NCHRP
Ken Fults, Texas DOT Roger Sandberg, National Asphalt Pavement
Association Dan Frentress, American Concrete Pavement Association
Leonard Brown, FHWA-Ohio Gayle Mitchell, Ohio University Mark
Swanlund, FHWA
Technical Committee
Co-Chairs:
William Kenis, Highway Research Engineer,
FHWA Shad Sargand, Russ Professor, Ohio University Roger Green, Pavement
Engineer, Ohio DOT
Members:
State and Federal government, private sector and
academia
To obtain a copy of the proceedings please contact Molly
Castagno at ORITE.
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