Review, Research, and Development of Pavement ME Fatigue Performance Model and Structural Coefficients for Specialty Asphalt Mixtures

Status: Ongoing

Funding Agency: New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)

Abstract:

This study will develop mixture specific fatigue performance models and fatigue based structural coefficients for New Jersey’s specialty asphalt mixtures, High Performance Thin Overlay and Stone Matrix Asphalt, because the draft Pavement Design Manual currently applies a single structural coefficient to all asphalt layers. Specialty mixtures have different stiffness and fatigue behavior than conventional dense graded mixes, so using the same coefficient and fatigue model can misrepresent their structural contribution and lead to overdesign or underdesign. The project will generate dynamic modulus master curves and laboratory fatigue equations for HPTO and SMA, implement these as Level 1 inputs in Pavement ME to determine equivalent thicknesses for comparable design lives, and then calculate mixture specific structural coefficients relative to the current NJDOT baseline. The outcomes will support updates to NJDOT’s Pavement Design Manual with calibrated coefficients, fatigue model parameters, and design examples that enable more accurate and cost effective flexible pavement designs.

Investigators: Dr. Anil Kumar Baditha, PhD., Dr. Ayman Ali, PhD., Dr. Yusuf Mehta, PhD.

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