Project TX Strategies to Improve and Preserve Flexible Pavement at Intersections UTEP - Soheil Nazarian - Imad Abdallah Project Duration September 08 – August 10 1

Problem Rural intersections are failing early Damage to small vehicles Motorists lose control of their vehicles 2

Causes for these failures High traffic volumes Heavy truck traffic Heat generated from vehicles waiting in queue Repeated vehicle turning movements and hard stops 3

Ranked Rural Issues Raised by TxDOT District Staff 4 REF: Jolanda Prozzi, Robert Harrison, Jorge A. Prozzi, (2005), “Defining and Measuring Rural Truck Traffic Needs in Texas,”Center for Transportation Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Research Report

Distresses (Example 1) 5

Distresses (Example 2) 6

Intersections are designed as a part of the roadway but are not subjected to the same conditions 7 Bottom Line

Work Plan 8

Schedule 9

Final Product 10

Outline Problem, Schedule, Final Product Background (Review of Literature) Goal (Problem Statement) Objective Methodology Tasks

Asphalt Pavement Alliance Maryland Asphalt Association National Asphalt Pavement Association National Center for Asphalt Technology Colorado Department of Transportation Canada South Africa New Zealand Illinois DOT Nevada DOT Oregon DOT Kansas DOT Review of Literature (Task 1) Common Types of Distress Remediation Action Plan

Most Common Distress Rutting Structural RuttingInstability RuttingSurface/Wear Rutting

Other Common Distresses Shoving Fatigue Cracking Bleeding Raveling

Remediation Strategies Mill and Overlay with Asphalt Concrete Rut Filling Using Spray Patching, Micro-Surfacing Grinding and Precision Milling Whitetopping (Conventional and Concrete Inlay) Ultra-Thin Whitetopping Thin Composite Whitetopping (TCW) Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Hot in Place Recycling (HIR) Cold in Place Recycling (CIR)

Action Plan 1.Evaluate pavement performance problems and determine the cause of major distress. 2.Ensure the pavement is structurally adequate. 3.Select and implement a cost-effective, technically sound pavement mitigation approach with appropriate materials selection and mix designs. 4.Practice proper construction techniques with quality assurance.

Example 1 After SUPERPAVE Mix 17

Other Examples Surface Course designed to Superpave Specifications Heavy Duty Binder Course Larger Stone Binder Course Permeable Frictionless Coarse (PFC) Coarse Matrix High Binder ( CMHB) 18

Stone Mastic Asphalt Thin Composite Whitetopping Stone-Matrix Asphalt ( SMA) Other Examples 19

Goal To provide solutions that can be readily and economically carried out considering: location of the project construction practices type of potential or actual damage at intersections. 20

Methodology (Expert System) 21 Inference Engine (Draw Conclusions) User Interface Facts Expertise Explanation (Advice and Reasoning) Knowledge Base (Facts and Rules)

22 Tasks

Task 2. Understanding and Documenting Extent of Problems and Solutions in Texas Surveying TxDOT Districts Reviewing Forensic Reports Interviewing district personnel and site visits Interviewing CST personnel 23

District Interviews

Task 3. Selection of Candidate Sites A least twelve sites that cover following criteria: Type of distress observed (instability rutting vs. structural rutting) Type of subgrade (clayey vs. sandy) Pavement structure (two-course surface treatment vs. with HMA) Traffic volume (rural vs. urban) Environmental condition (east Texas vs. west Texas) Preference will be given to sites that are scheduled for maintenance, rehabilitation or reconstruction. 25

Site Visited Atlanta fm 497 – fm 155 fm 149 – fm 315 US 259 Laredo fm 1472 US 83

Forensic investigation Structural strength Aggregate structure Correct Asphalt Binder grade Good construction practices 27 Task 4. Forensic Study Visited five sites and performed a thorough Investigations Site Survey, FWD, GPR, DCP, Coring, Lab Testing

Sites Visited and Investigated Atlanta fm 497 – fm 155 fm 149 – fm 315 US 259 Laredo fm 1472 US 83 28

Task 5. Preliminary Guidelines Based on Results Develop a Comprehensive Decision Tree To guide TxDOT personnel through process of field and laboratory evaluation intersections To select most appropriate rehabilitation solutions 29

Remediation Alternatives 30

Task 6. Develop Final Design and Construction Guidelines A document that can be used as a guideline by TxDOT personnel An electronic version of document with hyperlinks that provide additional information to TxDOT personnel 31

Task 7. Develop an Expert System Incorporate an expert system shell. With simple If-Then questions. Guide through process of selecting best solution. 32

Use of the Expert System 33

Expert System Variables Window 34

Expert System Logic Block Window

Expert System Logic Block and Rule View Window

Expert System Corvid Browser

Task 8. Recommend Changes to TxDOT Policies Based on the outcome of all tasks, recommend changes to TxDOT 2004 Specifications, if necessary. 40

Demonstrate Prototype and Show Preliminary Guideline 41 Prototype Guideline

Thank you 42