Effects of Using Accurate Climatic Conditions for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design

Abstract

The implementation of the new mechanistic-empirical design guide has led to the need for more accurate inputs. One of the most important inputs that affect the performance of the pavement materials is the climatic data. The importance of accurate climatic data is investigated in this case study. Climatic files available with the design guide and ones developed based on historical information for counties in the state of Iowa through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet were used. The climatic files that were interpolated from the data available within the design guide predicted higher rutting (both total and asphalt cement layer) for the northern part of the state, lower thermal cracking, and lower international roughness index compared to the files developed in this study. Statistical analysis showed that the results calculated using both groups are different.