Introduction to Pavement Design Software

Fenella Long Modelling and Analysis Systems (MAS)

Objectives of this Presentation

To discuss and debate
What value can software add to the pavement design engineer? How can the software be used in an optimal way? What are the dangers of pavement design software?

What Value Does Pavement Design Software Add? Perform Faster Calculations
Do Faster Calculations Work More Cost Effective Do More Calculations Explore More Options Better Understanding of Design Situation Ask & Answer Questions Make more Money Better Engineer Better Service

Sound Use of Design Software

The theory and process of the underlying method(s) should be well understood All input variables and their general effect on the design problem should be well understood Outputs should either be shown in, or converted to clear, concise reports Output trends should be understood at a fundamental level

The user lights the way, the software does the walking!

Understand the Underlying Theory

Knowledge of fundamental theory
Stress-strain analysis Material characteristics Transfer functions & their limitations

SA Mechanistic Empirical Design Method

Theyse et al. TG2 and other guidelines

Basic Design Guidelines

TRH4, TRL Road Note 31 TRH16, TRH12, etc.

Understand the Variables

Material Properties for Design
Stiffness and Poissons Ratio Strength Parameters (e.g. cohesion)

Pavement System Parameters

Layer modular ratios and their limits Pavement balance concepts

Traffic Variables
Load configuration and load effects Effects of tyre pressures

Outputs to be Clear and Concise

Outputs to be Clear and Concise

Assumptions/Inputs
110 mm Asphalt E = 2500 MPa, Poisson = 0.44 Asphalt Fatigue, Cat C 150 mm G3, dry condition E = 350 MPa, Poisson = 0.35 Granular Shear Criterion, Cat C

Outputs
Tensile Strain = 1xx microstrain Expected Capacity = 1.2 MESA

Safety Factor = 1.x Expected Capacity = 4.5 MESA

Subgrade E = 150 MPa, Poisson = 0.35 Subgrade Deformation, Cat C

Compressive Strain = 4xx microstrain Expected Capacity = 14.5 MESA

Load Used: 80 kn Axle, Dual Tyres, 520 kPa Pressure, 350 mm spacing

Irresponsible Software Use

Little or no understanding of underlying method Little or no understanding of key variables Use one number from the software output to make a decision No idea why output is as it is

The Result:
Black Box The software said so Expensive and/or unreliable designs

Value of Optimal Use of Good Design Software

Faster calculations = more powerful analysis and better knowledge of design situation
Educates and clarifies

Potential to link to other aspects of the contracting or rehabilitation design process Auditing and Quality Control Opens the domain to more engineers

Linking to the Rehabilitation Design Process

Survey & Testing

Design Calculations Data Analysis & Reporting Tender Preparation

Linking to the Rehabilitation Design Process

Survey & Testing Data Analysis & Reporting Design Calculations
Trial Pit Reporters DCP Analyzer Photo Logger Grading Analysis

Tender Preparation

Data Viewer Deflection Bowl Analyzer Backcalculation Tool

Stress-Strain Calculator Standard Axle Design Structure Comparison Monte Carlo Simulation 1986 AASHTO Multiple Structure Evaluation Axle Spectrum Tool

Linking Information Types to Clarify and Make Decisions

An Example: Linking Information for Clarity

An Example: Design Sensitivity and Reliability Analysis

Objectives
The use of mechanistic design to evaluate pavement sensitivity Demonstration using Rubicon Toolbox Basic concepts of Analysis of Variability and Monte Carlo Simulation

Variability in Pavement Design

150 mm

150 mm

Semi-Inf

Everything Contains Uncertainty

Design Assumptions
Layer Stiffness (MPa)

Working Strains
Strain In Layer

Transfer Function
Reps To Failure At Strain X

Sensitivity Analysis
Sensitivity analysis of non-linear systems is complex Assume a basic situation and analyze the effect of variations around that situation The position of the basic situation is a key aspect, and should be well chosen Ensure that the variations that are chosen are realistic

Position of Basic Situation

SAMDM Crack Initiation for Thick Asphalt (E = 2000 MPa, Category C)
120

Repetitions to Crack Initiation

100

80

Zero Sensitivity

60

40

20

0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 Strain (microstrain)

Position of Basic Situation

SAMDM Subgrade Rutting Criterion (10 mm Rut, Category C)
120

Repetitions to Crack Initiation

100

80

Sensitive but not Relevant

Zero Sensitivity

60

40

20

0 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 Strain (microstrain)

Approach to Sensitivity Analysis

1. Adopt a basic position or situation. Clearly define the assumptions and the reasons thereof 2. For all key variables, assume some variation in the positive or negative direction 3. E.g. for numeric data (thickness, stiffness), vary values by 20% up or down 4. For non-numeric data (material class), vary values one class up or down 5. Evaluate each situation and analyze results graphically 6. Focus on TRENDS 7. Ensure you understand why trends occur!

An Example
30 mm Asphalt E = 2500 MPa, Poisson = 0.4 Asphalt Fatigue, Shell-Austroads TF 150 mm G1, Dry Condition E = 450 MPa, Poisson = 0.35 SAMDM Shear Criterion, Category A Roads 250 mm C4 E = 1300 MPa, Poisson = 0.35 SAMDM Two Phase Material, Category A Roads 150 mm G7 E = 120 MPa, Poisson = 0.35 SAMDM Rut Criterion, Category A Roads 150 mm G9 E = 70 MPa, Poisson = 0.35 SAMDM Rut Criterion, Category A Roads

Load Used: 80 kn Axle, Dual Tyres, 750 kPa Pressure, 350 mm spacing

Systematic Variation of all Key Input Variables

Systematic Variation of Key Variables

Station 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Thick1 30 21 39 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 Thick2 150 150 150 105 195 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 Thick3 250 250 250 250 250 175 325 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 Thick4 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 210 390 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 Thick5 Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Semi-Inf Emod1 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 1750 3250 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 Emod2 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 315 585 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 Emod3 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 910 1690 1300 1300 1300 1300 1300 Emod4 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 84 156 120 120 120 Emod5 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 49 91 70

Relative Change in Capacity

0.2 0.4 0.6 -0.8 0 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 -1 Basic Position AC Thickness Decrease AC Thickness Increase G1 Thickness Decrease G1 Thickness Increase C4 Thickness Decrease C4 Thickness Increase G7 Thickness Decrease G7 Thickness Increase AC Stiffness Decrease AC Stiffness Increase G1 Stiffness Decrease G1 Stiffness Increase C4 Stiffness Decrease C4 Stiffness Increase G7 Stiffness Decrease G7 Stiffness Increase G9 Stiffness Decrease G9 Stiffness Increase G1 change to G2 C4 change to C3

Sensitivity Outputs

Monte Carlo Simulation

Relatively new approach for pavement analysis Computer techniques and software are well developed Official method of using Monte Carlo simulation with SAMDM does not exist Use as an analysis technique at present, not for final design

Monte Carlo Methodology

1. Specify variations in pavement layer properties (thickness and stiffness) 2. Specify load wander properties 3. Generate distributions for all properties 4. Randomly sample from each distribution 5. Build a pavement model with the sampled properties 6. Evaluate pavement response 7. Repeat Steps 4 to 6 many times 8. Analyze all outputs statistically

Specifying Variations in Properties

Rubicon Toolbox as a Pavement Design Tool

Fenella Long

Overview of Presentation
The Rubicon Idea Rubicon Toolbox: Main Concepts Rubicon Toolbox: Main Window (Demo) SAMDM Key Concepts Refresher Pavement Design Examples (Demo) Design Examples: Afternoon Workshop

The Rubicon Idea

To create a competitive, commercial enterprise to provide pavement design software tools to practitioners worldwide To set a new standard in pavement design software To speed up and clarify calculations and reporting related to rehabilitation design To facilitate in-depth analysis and steer away from a recipe approach To develop a club of practitioners to provide ideas and feedback for software improvement

Rubicon Toolbox Main Concepts

Main Window Project and Data Structure Defining Custom Settings Opening a New Tool Session Opening an Existing Tool Session The Use of Excel and Data Import Templates

The Mechanistic Design Method

Formulate Design Assumptions Computer Model (Response Model) Extract Calculated Responses Transfer Function
(Observed Performance at Different Response Levels)
Note: This process is performed for each layer in the pavement system

Predicted Performance

SA Mechanistic Design Method

Development from early 1980s Most commonly used design method in South Africa Basis (partly!) for the TRH4 Catalogue One form of the ME Design Method

SA Mechanistic Design Method

Aspects Unique to the Method: The evaluation of granular materials (Safety Factor) The 2-Phase behaviour of cemented materials With Rubicon: Specifying modulus changes over phases using the modular ratio

HANDLING DIFFERENT PHASES

CSIR Approach

E = 1800

C3

12 MESA

C3

E = 1800 8 MESA E = 350 10 MESA

E = 1200

C4

3 MESA

EG6

Total Pavement Life is:

3 + (8 x 0.75) = 9 MESA

HANDLING DIFFERENT PHASES

Alternative Approach
Stiffness reduction takes damage into account

E = 1800

C3

12 MESA

C3

E = 1000 7 MESA E = 350 8 MESA

E = 1200

C4

3 MESA

EG6

Total Pavement Life is:

3 + 7 = 10 MESA

Assignments

Materials Classification and Pavement Design for Bituminous Stabilized Materials (Foam and Emulsion)
www.bitstab.roadrehab.com