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MEPDG Work Plan Task No. 8: Validation of Pavement Performance Curves for the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide
InTrans Project Reports
  • Halil Ceylan, Iowa State University
  • Sunghwan Kim, Iowa State University
  • Kasthurirangan Gopalakrishnan, Iowa State University
  • Omar G. Smadi, Iowa State University
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
2-1-2009
Abstract
The objective of this research is to determine whether the nationally calibrated performance models used in the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) provide a reasonable prediction of actual field performance, and if the desired accuracy or correspondence exists between predicted and monitored performance for Iowa conditions. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the MEPDG input parameters and the MEPDG verification/calibration process. Sensitivities of MEPDG input parameters to predictions were studied using different versions of the MEPDG software. Based on literature review and sensitivity analysis, a detailed verification procedure was developed. A total of sixteen different types of pavement sections across Iowa, not used for national calibration in NCHRP 1-47A, were selected. A database of MEPDG inputs and the actual pavement performance measures for the selected pavement sites were prepared for verification. The accuracy of the MEPDG performance models for Iowa conditions was statistically evaluated. The verification testing showed promising results in terms of MEPDG’s performance prediction accuracy for Iowa conditions. Recalibrating the MEPDG performance models for Iowa conditions is recommended to improve the accuracy of predictions.
Copyright Owner
Iowa State University
Report Number
CTRE Project 06-274
Granting Agencies

Iowa Department of Transportation

Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Halil Ceylan, Sunghwan Kim, Kasthurirangan Gopalakrishnan and Omar G. Smadi. "MEPDG Work Plan Task No. 8: Validation of Pavement Performance Curves for the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide" (2009)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/halil_ceylan/209/