Impact of Local Calibration Using Sustainable Materials for Rigid Pavement Analysis and Design

Abstract

A catalog of locally appropriate Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (M-EPDG) inputs was developed for North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) rigid pavements using 18 concrete mixtures produced with two ordinary portland cements (OPCs), portland limestone cement (PLC), two fly ashes, and local aggregates. Equivalent mechanical and thermal performance was found between mixtures using OPC and PLC, supporting use of these sustainable cements. Tests for coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), thermal conductivity, and heat capacity revealed default values are very conservative for North Carolina use. Varying coarse aggregate type did not greatly influence performance. However, fine aggregate type (manufactured or natural sand) significantly influenced concrete thermal properties. Sensitivity analysis findings were similar to other studies. Analyses for thermal conductivity and heat capacity provided insight into the effects of these infrequently measured inputs on predicted performance. The predicted performances of pavement sections with calibrated input values outperformed sections that were designed using the default input values for concrete currently used. Thinner concrete pavements could be designed in the future at lower cost and reduced environmental impact.