Iowa Calibration of MEPDG Performance Prediction Models

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

START DATE

05/20/11

END DATE

08/31/12

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CTRE, PROSPER
SPONSORS

Iowa Department of Transportation

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Halil Ceylan

Director, PROSPER

Co-Principal Investigator
Kasthurirangan Gopalakrishnan
Co-Principal Investigator
Sunghwan Kim

Associate Director, PROSPER

About the research

This study aims to improve the accuracy of AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) pavement performance predictions for Iowa pavement systems through local calibration of MEPDG prediction models. A total of 130 representative pavement sites across Iowa were selected. The selected pavement sites represent flexible, rigid, and composite pavement systems throughout Iowa. The required MEPDG inputs and the historical performance data for the selected sites were extracted from a variety of sources. The accuracy of the nationally-calibrated MEPDG prediction models for Iowa conditions was evaluated. The local calibration factors of MEPDG performance prediction models were identified to improve the accuracy of model predictions. The identified local calibration coefficients are presented with other significant findings and recommendations for use in MEPDG/DARWin-ME for Iowa pavement systems.

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