Les exposés écrits du congrès ont été publiés dans la langue dans laquelle ils ont été soumis à l’ATC.
There are three quality levels (Levels 1 to 3) of design inputs in the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design (PMED) software for asphalt concrete (AC) mixes. Level 1 inputs, obtained through comprehensive laboratory tests, are recommended for the most reliable outcomes. Level 2 inputs, derived from a limited number of laboratory tests, provide less reliable outcomes than Level 1. Level 3 inputs, consisting of typical physical properties, are considered to provide the least reliable results. However, obtaining Level 1 input data is challenging for the PMED software users because of the required resources including technical expertise and time to perform the required tests. As a result, Level 3 inputs for AC mixes are generally used.
To compare the outcomes from Level 1 and Level 3 inputs, design trials were completed in this study with inputs from five asphalt mixes containing 0 to 40% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and 11 weather stations across Canada. Analyses of these trial results indicate that Level 1 inputs predict lower IRI values in warmer and higher IRI values in colder climates than Level 3 inputs. Level 1 inputs have no impact on the predicted thermal cracking (TC) in colder climates but show some impacts in warmer climates. In contrast, Level 3 inputs result in some variation in TC in colder climates while having no impact in warmer climates. Level 1 inputs result in lower AC layer and total rutting compared to Level 3 inputs in all climates. Both Level 1 and Level 3 inputs predict higher AC layer and total rutting in colder climates and lower rutting in warmer climates. Level 1 inputs yield lesser amounts of bottom-up and top-down fatigue cracks, with a greater sensitivity to variation of inputs, than Level 3 inputs. This paper presents the details of the trials, results, analyses and findings.