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Roadway Pavement Design Methods, Structural Approaches and Relevant Computer Algorithms: A Critical Review

Received: 21 January 2022    Accepted: 13 February 2022    Published: 28 February 2022
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Abstract

Transport and international agencies invest millions of dollars on road projects to support countries develop their infrastructure; therefore, it is important to ensure longer service life and value for money. The primary function of the pavement structure is to keep distresses, including fatigue cracking and permanent deformation, to an acceptable limit so that the pavement can withstand applied vehicle load and repetitions during the service duration. Furthermore, the layered structure of the pavement is intended to ensure that the vehicle contact pressure is distributed in such a way that critical responses at the bottom layer of the pavement are low enough to avoid severe damage. Two typical procedures associated with roadway pavement design are empirical-based and structural analysis methods. However, the empirical-based methods have significant shortcomings, as predicting the mode and extent of pavement performance becomes a major challenge. Alternatively, the structural analysis methods have advanced extensively with computers since they consider crucial factors such as traffic loads, material characteristics and environmental conditions. The imputation of these parameters into the computer algorithm contributes to a better understanding of the mechanical performance of constituent pavement material responses. The predicted responses enable highway engineers to select appropriate pavement compositions that will deteriorate at a satisfactory level during the time of service. The most common structural analysis approaches are analytical modelling and numerical simulation. On the other hand, differences in analysis results generation using these approaches have been a notable concern. This review article presents a synopsis of typical pavement design methods and the problem connected with them; structural approaches to identify factors influencing their accuracy. Furthermore, computer algorithms use due to their usefulness, and the assumptions of layered theories employed in pavement structural design are discussed to uncover potential drawbacks for future upgrades.

Published in International Journal of Transportation Engineering and Technology (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12
Page(s) 13-23
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Highway Pavements, Design Methods, Structural Approaches, Computer Algorithms, Pavement Distresses

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Cite This Article
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    Elvis Siaway Kwado Mensahn, Surajo Abubakar Wada, Lameck Lugeiyamu. (2022). Roadway Pavement Design Methods, Structural Approaches and Relevant Computer Algorithms: A Critical Review. International Journal of Transportation Engineering and Technology, 8(1), 13-23. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12

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    ACS Style

    Elvis Siaway Kwado Mensahn; Surajo Abubakar Wada; Lameck Lugeiyamu. Roadway Pavement Design Methods, Structural Approaches and Relevant Computer Algorithms: A Critical Review. Int. J. Transp. Eng. Technol. 2022, 8(1), 13-23. doi: 10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12

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    AMA Style

    Elvis Siaway Kwado Mensahn, Surajo Abubakar Wada, Lameck Lugeiyamu. Roadway Pavement Design Methods, Structural Approaches and Relevant Computer Algorithms: A Critical Review. Int J Transp Eng Technol. 2022;8(1):13-23. doi: 10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12,
      author = {Elvis Siaway Kwado Mensahn and Surajo Abubakar Wada and Lameck Lugeiyamu},
      title = {Roadway Pavement Design Methods, Structural Approaches and Relevant Computer Algorithms: A Critical Review},
      journal = {International Journal of Transportation Engineering and Technology},
      volume = {8},
      number = {1},
      pages = {13-23},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijtet.20220801.12},
      abstract = {Transport and international agencies invest millions of dollars on road projects to support countries develop their infrastructure; therefore, it is important to ensure longer service life and value for money. The primary function of the pavement structure is to keep distresses, including fatigue cracking and permanent deformation, to an acceptable limit so that the pavement can withstand applied vehicle load and repetitions during the service duration. Furthermore, the layered structure of the pavement is intended to ensure that the vehicle contact pressure is distributed in such a way that critical responses at the bottom layer of the pavement are low enough to avoid severe damage. Two typical procedures associated with roadway pavement design are empirical-based and structural analysis methods. However, the empirical-based methods have significant shortcomings, as predicting the mode and extent of pavement performance becomes a major challenge. Alternatively, the structural analysis methods have advanced extensively with computers since they consider crucial factors such as traffic loads, material characteristics and environmental conditions. The imputation of these parameters into the computer algorithm contributes to a better understanding of the mechanical performance of constituent pavement material responses. The predicted responses enable highway engineers to select appropriate pavement compositions that will deteriorate at a satisfactory level during the time of service. The most common structural analysis approaches are analytical modelling and numerical simulation. On the other hand, differences in analysis results generation using these approaches have been a notable concern. This review article presents a synopsis of typical pavement design methods and the problem connected with them; structural approaches to identify factors influencing their accuracy. Furthermore, computer algorithms use due to their usefulness, and the assumptions of layered theories employed in pavement structural design are discussed to uncover potential drawbacks for future upgrades.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Roadway Pavement Design Methods, Structural Approaches and Relevant Computer Algorithms: A Critical Review
    AU  - Elvis Siaway Kwado Mensahn
    AU  - Surajo Abubakar Wada
    AU  - Lameck Lugeiyamu
    Y1  - 2022/02/28
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12
    T2  - International Journal of Transportation Engineering and Technology
    JF  - International Journal of Transportation Engineering and Technology
    JO  - International Journal of Transportation Engineering and Technology
    SP  - 13
    EP  - 23
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1751
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijtet.20220801.12
    AB  - Transport and international agencies invest millions of dollars on road projects to support countries develop their infrastructure; therefore, it is important to ensure longer service life and value for money. The primary function of the pavement structure is to keep distresses, including fatigue cracking and permanent deformation, to an acceptable limit so that the pavement can withstand applied vehicle load and repetitions during the service duration. Furthermore, the layered structure of the pavement is intended to ensure that the vehicle contact pressure is distributed in such a way that critical responses at the bottom layer of the pavement are low enough to avoid severe damage. Two typical procedures associated with roadway pavement design are empirical-based and structural analysis methods. However, the empirical-based methods have significant shortcomings, as predicting the mode and extent of pavement performance becomes a major challenge. Alternatively, the structural analysis methods have advanced extensively with computers since they consider crucial factors such as traffic loads, material characteristics and environmental conditions. The imputation of these parameters into the computer algorithm contributes to a better understanding of the mechanical performance of constituent pavement material responses. The predicted responses enable highway engineers to select appropriate pavement compositions that will deteriorate at a satisfactory level during the time of service. The most common structural analysis approaches are analytical modelling and numerical simulation. On the other hand, differences in analysis results generation using these approaches have been a notable concern. This review article presents a synopsis of typical pavement design methods and the problem connected with them; structural approaches to identify factors influencing their accuracy. Furthermore, computer algorithms use due to their usefulness, and the assumptions of layered theories employed in pavement structural design are discussed to uncover potential drawbacks for future upgrades.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, PR China

  • School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, PR China

  • School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, PR China

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