ISGTI 2018

7-8April2018, IITDelhi, India

Challenges of Unbonded Concrete Overlay Design Using Pavement

Mechanistic-Empirical Design
Rafiqul A Tarefder
Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, MSC01 1070, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
87131;
E-mail:tarefder@unm.edu

Gauhar Sabih
Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, MSC01 1070, 1 University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM 87131. E-mail:gsabih@unm.edu

ABSTRACT: Unbonded concrete overlay (UBCO) is the most widely used rehabilitation option being
used as compared to other types of overlays based on its long-term performance, minimal pre-overlay
repairs, and relatively easier construction. The implementation of latest pavement performance
prediction tools such as the Pavement ME Design (previously called AASHTOware Pavement
Mechanistic Empirical (ME) Design guide or MEPDG) has provided the opportunity for designing and
performance analysis of UBCOs. The levels of design inputs, for concrete mechanical properties, range
from time series data (time series means tested data from 7 to 90 days) of elastic modulus (Ec) and
modulus of rupture (MOR) to 28-day compressive strength. This study focuses on evaluating the
impact of design input levels for concrete strength and stiffness properties on performance predictions
of UBCO using Pavement ME Design. Previous studies have shown that concrete strength properties
including compressive strength, Ec, and MOR have significant effects on UBCO performance. The
effects of these input levels on predicted faulting and transverse cracking are evaluated for three
different paving mixes. The results show that the combination of measured 28-day MOR and Ec
yielded predicted distresses that were consistently in close agreement with the predictions using time
series data. It became evident that accurate 28-day MOR and Ec values can be used as a less
challenging and less expensive alternative to the time series characterization of concrete mechanical
properties for UBCO design and performance evaluation.
Keywords:Concrete; Elastic modulus; Overlay;Mechanistic-empirical

THIS PAPER HAS BEEN INCLUDED FOR PRESENTATION IN THE SYPOSIUM BUT NOT
INCLUDED IN PROCEEDINGS AS IT IS BEING SUBMITTED FOR INCLUSION IN
SPECIAL ISSUE OF INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON TRANSPORTATION GEOTECHNICS
COMMOMERATING 70 YEARS OF INDIAN GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY.

173