U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| Project Information | ||
| Project ID: | FHWA-PROJ-08-0043 | |
| Project Name: | Implementation of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements Performance-Related Specifications by State Highway Agencies | |
| Project Status: | Active | |
| Start Date: | October 1, 2008 | |
| End Date: | April 30, 2014 | |
| Contact Information | ||
| Last Name: | Bradbury | |
| First Name: | Richard | |
| Telephone: | 202-493-3365 | |
| E-mail: | Richard.Duval@dot.gov | |
| Office: | Office of Infrastructure Research and Development | |
| Team: | Infrastructure Analysis and Construction Team [HRDI-20] | |
| Program: | Innovative Pavement Research and Deployment | |
| Project detail | ||
| Roadmap/Focus area(s): | Infrastructure Research and Technology Strategic Plan and Roadmap | |
| Project Description: | This is a continuation of a research contract activity which was started on October 1, 2008. The research contractor (Applied Research Associates) has so far performed satisfactorily on route to addressing the three contract objectives: (1) To incorporate Mechanistic-Empirical Design Guide models in jointed plain concrete pavement performance-related specifications, as has been done for hot-mix asphalt performance-related specifications in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program 9-22.(2) To provide assistance to three States who want to develop or improve on their performance-related specifications.(3) To develop a plan for Statewide implementation of performance-related specifications, thereby saving time and eliminating much of the burden associated with current project-by-project jointed plain concrete pavements performance-related specifications development. The three objectives were identified in 2004 as high-priority research needs by the Concrete Technical Working Group that provided guidance for the Office of Asset Management's Performance Specifications Strategic Roadmap. They were also specifically identified as critical needs by participants in the November 2006 Advanced Quality Systems Workshop in Alexandria, Virginia. Also, the American Concrete Pavement Association has passed a resolution to encourage the further development and implementation of performance-related specifications, and the American Concrete Pavement Association staff have provided significant input in past performance-related specifications software development and jointed plain concrete pavements performance-related specifications field trials. All field trials were successful. The States conducting field trials (using performance-related specifications not based on the Mechanistic-Empirical Design Guide models) were Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Those States plus others (e.g., California, Kansas) have now indicated a need for Mechanistic-Empirical Design Guide-based performance-related specifications and for assistance with performance-related specifications implementation. This research contract activity will provide such performance-related specifications development and implementation assistance to three States and will result in Mechanistic-Empirical Design Guide-based PaveSpec 4.0 performance-related specifications software that replaces the current PaveSpec 3.0. As noted above, this activity addresses a Fiscal Year 2010 Gap: "Performance-based Specifications Have Limitations Due to Existing Testing and Evaluation Protocols." It also addresses Fiscal Year 2010 Gap: "Lack of Guidance and Best Practices for QA." This activity will improve and implement current jointed plain concrete pavements performance-related specifications, moving them closer to performance-based specifications. It will also be the basis for quality assurance guidance. | |
| Goals: |
The following are the key project objectives:
(1) Incorporating Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) models in jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) performance-related specifications (PRS).
(2) Providing assistance to State highway agencies in developing and using Level 1 and Level 2 PRS.
(3) Developing a plan for Statewide implementation of PRS.
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| Field Test: | Shadow Specification | |
| Product Type: | Research report Software Training materials | |
| Test Methodology: | Shadow Specification | |
| Expected Benefits: | Each of the studies' three objectives will in its own way benefit the concrete paving community. The incorporation of Mechanistic-Empirical Design Guide models in performance-related specifications will result in construction personnel using post-construction performance prediction models that are consistent with the preconstruction models used by designers, including specification developers. The use of consistent models will promote better communications among the above-named parties and, in particular, allow for meaningful feedback from construction to design, leading to continuous improvements in quality and minimized life-cycle costs. | |
| Deliverables: | 1. Name: Final reports documenting work on updating PaveSpec to incorporate MechanisticEmpirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) models. Product Type(s): Research report Description: The deliverables are draft and final reports documenting work on updating PaveSpec to incorporate MechanisticEmpirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) models. 2. Name: Screen shots Product Type(s): Research report, Training materials Description: The products are screen shots of input and output screens for the alpha version of the updated PaveSpec. 3. Name: Final PaveSpec software. Product Type(s): Research report, Software Description: The product is the final release version of updated PaveSpec software (Section 508 compliant), along with source and object codes. 4. Name: User's manual. Product Type(s): Research report, Training materials Description: The deliverable is a draft and final updated PaveSpec users manual (Section 508 compliant). | |
| FHWA Topics: | Roads and Bridges--Construction and Project Management | |
| TRT Terms: | Performance Related Specifications Concrete Pavements Materials Quality Assurance Infrastructure Construction |
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| FHWA Disciplines: | Pavement and Materials Construction and Project Management |
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| Subject Areas: | Pavements Materials |
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