Currently, newer pavement design methodologies are being developed and implemented. They are based on mechanistic-empirical (M-E) principles where pavement responses are determined mechanistically from material, traffic, and environmental properties that are later correlated through statistical models to in place performance of the pavement structures. However, this process is complex and data intensive and generally requires a vast amount of information, not only to be used, but more importantly to be calibrated to specific conditions or regions so that the designs or performance estimations are accurate. After reviewing existing pavement management databases currently in use by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), it is clear that most of the current databases serve well for network level applications, but do not contain required information and cannot be directly applied to data-intensive project-specific applications such as mechanistic pavement design. Consequently, this paper focuses on the development of the Texas Flexible Pavement Database, the main purpose of which is to aid in pavement design through the development of new and calibration of existing M-E design models. The paper presents a brief introduction to the different modules included in the database: structure and materials, traffic, environment, and performance. It shows how the users can interact with the database and the different modules through a simple, yet objective user interface, and it provides a general idea of what is included in each of the different modules and how they meet current M-E design requirements.
Abstract