Performance requirements for flexible pavement

Abstract

This study involved the development of performance requirements to satisfy thermal distress in a high quality surface course for flexible pavement. The four requirements determined were for long term or thermal equilibrium, normal strain or stress, short term or transient thermal stress, shear strength and peel strength of the pavement-foundation interface. The shear lag in the wearing course was found to increase with increasing thickness of lifts. A time-temperature dependent modulus was used to compute stresses so the results were actually thermoviscoelastic requirements. Use of the results will lead to conservative design from the standpoint of maintaining the structural integrity of the pavement.