Comparing the Bonded Concrete Overlays of Asphalt-Mechanistic Empirical Design Procedure and the Short Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement Module in the Pavement Mechanistic Empirical Design Procedure

Abstract

Bonded concrete overlays of asphalt pavements (BCOA) consist of a concrete overlay placed on an existing asphalt or composite pavement. This technique is intended as a cost-effective rehabilitation solution for marginally distressed in-service asphalt or composite pavements. BCOA with panel sizes between 4.5 ft and 8.5 ft have become popular as they reduce curling stresses while keeping the longitudinal joints out of the wheelpath. The BCOA-ME (mechanistic empirical) design procedure and Pavement ME short jointed plain concrete pavement (SJPCP) module can both be used to design BCOA with mid-size panels. However, these design procedures differ in the assumptions used to develop the mechanistic computational model, fatigue models used to predict failure, treatment of environmental conditions, estimate of asphalt stiffness, consideration of structural fibers, the application of traffic loading, and the calibration process. This results in the procedures producing different overlay thicknesses and predicted distresses. The strengths and limitations of each procedure are evaluated and comparisons are made between the design thicknesses obtained from them.