CATALOG OF MATERIAL PROPERTIES FOR MECHANISTIC-EMPIRICAL PAVEMENT DESIGN

Abstract

The new pavement design methodology is based on mechanistic-empirical principles that are expected to be used in parallel with and eventually replace the current empirical pavement design procedures. The new mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) requires greater quantities and quality of input data. Material characterization for the mechanistic-empirical approach, the focus of this thesis, is significantly more fundamental and extensive than in the current empirically-based AASHTO Design Guide. The objective of the thesis is to develop an organized database of material properties for the most common paving materials used in Maryland. A comprehensive material property database in Microsoft Access 2007 has been developed. The database is initially populated with all information received from SHA. It provides complete data management tools for adding and managing future data as well as data display screens for MEPDG. Recommendations for future material testing for Maryland are also provided.