Modification of MEPDG rutting model based on RIOHTrack data

ABSTRACT

Rutting is one of the most prevalent road distresses in asphalt pavement (AP), it is therefore critical to accurately predict the development of rutting to guide pavement design and maintenance. Based on the measured rutting data obtained from the RIOHTrack in China, the the most widely used MEPDG rutting model is evaluated for its applicability. Due to the original MEPDG rutting model being highly sensitive to a rapid increase of the number of load repetitions (NLR), a modified MEPDG rutting model is proposed by introducing a growth coefficient ($\alpha$) for the NLR to reduce the effect of the rapid increase of NLR on the rutting prediction. The applicability of the modified rutting model is then verified by various pavement structures tested in the RIOHTrack, and the value of coefficient ($\alpha$) based on the different annual average growth rates of traffic volume is provided for facilitating application. Moreover, the growth rate of the flow ruts is indicated as the critical parameter to describe the rutting development and used for rutting prediction, and the correlations between the pavement structures and the parameter are analyzed. The findings can guide for predicting the rut depth of the asphalt pavement within the whole service life.

KEYWORDS:

• Asphalt pavement
• MEPDGrutting model
• model modification
• number of load repetitions (NLR)
• RIOHTrack

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank the support from the National Key R&D Program of China under grant number 20221250002.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China: [Grant Number No. 20221250002].