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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| REPORT |
| This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
 |
| Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-12-035 Date: November 2012 |
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-12-035 Date: November 2012 |
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| Page ‘a’ | Replace Forward page with attached copy | https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/ltpp/12035/index.cfm#forward |
Ride quality and structural adequacy are key pavement performance indicators. The relationship between the two has been a topic of frequent and continuing discussion in the pavement community, but an accepted and widely used relationship has not been identified to date. This report presents the results of a study undertaken to identify and verify the relationship, if any, between the two performance indicators using the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program and other pavement performance data sources. The study was performed in an effort to improve the evaluation and use of pavement condition data in pavement rehabilitation and design decisions. More specifically, the project was intended to develop and document a mechanism to include both ride quality and structural adequacy values within the context of current network-level pavement management systems for highway agency implementation to ensure smooth, structurally adequate pavements. To accomplish the objective, two major activities were carried out: (1) a literature search to gather, review, and synthesize available information on relating ride quality and structural adequacy and (2) a review and assessment of data from the LTPP program to determine if such a relationship exists. This report details those two activities and their major findings, observations, and conclusions.
Jorge E. Pagán-Ortiz
Director, Office of Infrastructure
Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
Quality Assurance Statement
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
As the highway community transitions to a performance-based approach to managing investments in pavement infrastructure, it is vitally important that potential performance measures and inter-relationships among performance measures be thoroughly examined to assess their applicability to the challenges of managing for performance. Ride quality and structural adequacy are two key pavement performance indicators. The relationship (or lack of relationship) between the two has been a topic of frequent and continuing discussion in the pavement community for many years. Data collected through the Federal Highway Administration’s Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program has created an unprecedented opportunity to examine whether there is, in fact, a meaningful and consistent relationship between ride quality and structural adequacy, and to model that relationship if it exists. There would be substantial economic and engineering benefits to the pavement engineering community if such a relationship could be identified and definitively modeled. Likewise, if no such relationship exists, the pavement engineering community could focus on proper modeling of each of the individual indicators separately in order to improve network level decision making. This study was intended to develop and document a mechanism to include both ride quality and structural adequacy values within the context of current network-level pavement management systems for highway agency implementation to ensure smooth, structurally adequate pavements. To accomplish the objective, two major activities were carried out: (1) a literature search to gather, review, and synthesize available information on relating ride quality and structural adequacy and (2) a review and assessment of data from the LTPP program to determine if such a relationship exists. LTPP data was chosen for its quality, comprehensive coverage, and robust suite of supporting information necessary to conduct a national study. This report details the study methodology and findings including presentation of a conclusion to the question – are ride and structural adequacy related?
Jorge E. Pagán-Ortiz
Director, Office of Infrastructure
Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
Quality Assurance Statement
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Technical Report Documentation Page
| 1. Report No.
FHWA-HRT-12-035 |
2. Government Accession No. | 3 Recipient's Catalog No. | ||
| 4. Title and Subtitle
Relating Ride Quality and Structural Adequacy for Pavement Rehabilitation/Design Decisions |
5. Report Date November 2012 |
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| 6. Performing Organization Code | ||||
| 7. Author(s)
Rada, G.R., Ph.D., P.E., Perera, R., Ph.D., P.E., and Prabhakar, V., P.E. |
8. Performing Organization Report No.
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9. Performing Organization Name and Address Fugro Consultants, Inc. |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) |
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11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-08-D-00021-T-11001 |
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| 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Office of Infrastructure Research and Development |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Final Report, December 2010–December 2011 |
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14. Sponsoring Agency Code HRDI-30 |
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15. Supplementary Notes The task order manager was Larry Wiser. The Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) was Nadarajah Sivaneswaran (HRDI-30), the Contract Officer was Robin K. Hobbs, and the Contract Specialist was Sean Wybenga. The task order contractor was Fugro Consultants, Inc., with subcontractors Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc. and Woodward Communications, Inc. |
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| 16. Abstract
Ride quality and structural adequacy are key pavement performance indicators. The relationship between these two indicators has been a topic of frequent and continuing discussion in the pavement community, but an accepted and widely used relationship has not been identified to date. The objective of this project was to identify and verify the relationship between these two performance indicators, if any, using the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program and other pavement performance data sources. This was done in an effort to improve the evaluation and use of pavement condition data in pavement rehabilitation and design decisions. More specifically, the project was intended to develop and document a mechanism to include both ride quality and structural adequacy values within the context of current network-level pavement management system practices for highway agency implementation to ensure smooth pavements that are also structurally adequate. Toward the accomplishment of the project objective, two major activities were carried out: (1) a literature search to gather, review, and synthesize available information on relating ride quality and structural adequacy and (2) a review and assessment of data from the LTPP program to determine if such a relationship exists. This report details those two activities as well as their major findings, observations, and conclusions. A viable relationship could not be identified. |
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| 17. Key Words
Ride quality, Structural adequacy, Structural capacity, Pavement management systems, Pavement rehabilitation, Pavement design decisions |
18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161. |
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19. Security Classification Unclassified |
20. Security Classification Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages 179 |
22. Price N/A |
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| Form DOT F 1700.7 | Reproduction of completed page authorized |
SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors
1.1 PAVEMENT REHABILITATION AND DESIGN DECISIONS
1.2 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RIDE QUALITY AND STRUCTURAL ADEQUACY
1.3 PROJECT GOAL AND OBJECTIVE
1.4 REPORT ORGANIZATION
2.1 OVERVIEW
2.2 SPECIFIC FINDINGS
2.3 SUMMARY
CHAPTER 3. DATA AVAILABILITY AND DATA ASSESSMENT
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 DATA AVAILABILITY
3.3 RIDE QUALITY PARAMETER SELECTED FOR STUDY
3.4 STRUCTURAL STRENGTH PARAMETER SELECTED FOR STUDY
3.4.1 Flexible Pavements
3.4.2 Rigid Pavements
3.5 CONTINUOUS ROUGHNESS PLOT
3.6 EVALUATING CHANGES IN RIDE QUALITY AND STRUCTURAL CAPACITY OVER TIME
3.6.1 Changes in IRI
3.6.2 Changes in Structural Strength—Flexible Pavements
3.6.3 Change in Structural Strength—Rigid Pavements
3.7 METHODOLOGY FOR COMPARING RIDE QUALITY-STRUCTURAL CAPACITY RELATIONSHIP
3.7.1 Flexible Pavements
3.7.2 Rigid Pavements
3.8 TEST SECTIONS SELECTED FOR ANALYSIS
3.9 ANALYSIS OF GROUP 1 SECTIONS
3.9.1 LTPP Section 050119 (Arkansas)
3.9.2 LTPP Section 480114 (Texas)
3.9.3 LTPP Section 310113 (Nebraska)
3.9.4 LTPP Section 010102 (Alabama)
3.9.5 LTPP Section 390112 (Ohio)
3.9.6 LTPP Section 040123 (Arizona)
3.9.7 LTPP Section 190108 (Iowa)
3.10 ANALYSIS OF GROUP 2 SECTIONS
3.10.1 LTPP Section 320101 (Nevada)
3.10.2 LTPP Section 390106 (Ohio)
3.10.3 LTPP Section 310117 (Nebraska)
3.10.4 LTPP Section 310118 (Nebraska)
3.11 ANALYSIS OF GROUP 3 SECTIONS
3.11.1 LTPP Section 190101 (Iowa)
3.11.2 LTPP Section 190103 (Iowa)
3.11.3 LTPP Section 050114 (Arkansas)
3.11.4 LTPP Section 050116 (Arkansas)
3.12 ANALYSIS OF GROUP 4 SECTIONS
3.12.1 LTPP Section 040502 (Arizona)
3.12.2 LTPP Section 240505 (Maryland)
3.12.3 LTPP Section 270509 (Minnesota)
3.13 ANALYSIS OF GROUP 5 SECTIONS
3.13.1 LTPP Section 040213 (Arizona)
3.13.2 LTPP Section 050217 (Arkansas)
3.13.3 LTPP Section 390205 (Ohio)
CHAPTER 4. OTHER DATA ANALYSIS CONSIDERATIONS
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 EVALUATION OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR IMPACTS
4.3 REVIEW OF IRI TIME HISTORY DATA
4.4 REVIEW OF DEFLECTION TIME HISTORY DATA
4.5 ASSESSMENT OF PCC WARPING AND CURLING
4.5.1 Curling and Warping of Slabs
4.5.2 Diurnal Changes in IRI
4.5.3 Changes in IRI Over Time
4.5.4 Effect of Curling and Warping on FWD Testing
4.5.5 Effect of Roughness on Structural Capacity
CHAPTER 5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
APPENDIX A. DEFLECTION BELOW CENTER OF 9,000-LB LOAD AND SUBGRADE MODULUS PLOTS
A.1.1 Section 050119 (Arkansas)
A.1.2 Section 480114 (Texas)
A.1.3 Section 310113 (Nebraska)
A.1.4 Section 010102 (Alabama)
A.1.5 Section 390112 (Ohio)
A.1.6 Section 040123 (Arizona)
A.1.7 Section 190108 (Iowa)
A.2.1 Section 320101 (Nevada)
A.2.2 Section 390106 (Nevada)
A.3.1 Section 190101 (Iowa)
A.3.2 Section 190103 (Iowa)
A.3.3 Section 050114 (Arkansas)
A.3.4 Section 050116 (Arkansas)
A.4.1 Section 040502 (Arizona)
A.4.2 Section 240505 (Maryland)
A.4.3 Section 270509 (Minnesota)
APPENDIX B. DEFLECTION BELOW LOAD AND AT 60 INCHES FOR A 9,000-LB LOAD
B.1.1 Section 040213 (Arizona)
B.1.2 Section 050217 (Arkansas)
B.1.3 Section 390205 (Ohio)
APPENDIX C. TIME SEQUENCE IRI PLOTS
C.1 GROUP 1 SECTIONS
C.2 GROUP 2 SECTIONS
C.3 GROUP 3 SECTIONS
C.4 GROUP 4 SECTIONS
C.5 GROUP 5 SECTIONS
APPENDIX D. AVERAGE NORMALIZED DEFLECTION AND MID-DEPTH SURFACE LAYER TEMPERATURE PLOTS
D.1 GROUP 1 SECTIONS
D.2 GROUP 2 SECTIONS
D.3 GROUP 3 SECTIONS
D.4 GROUP 4 SECTIONS
D.5 GROUP 5 SECTIONS
