QUANTIFYING THE IMPACT OF CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS ON ASPHALT PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE LIFE

Asphalt content, aggregate characteristics, pavement layers thicknesses and their degree of compaction, and initial pavement smoothness are key quality control aspects in asphalt pavement construction. These measurable items are routinely checked during the construction process. The overall pavement performance life may be significantly affected when the specified values of those items are not achieved in situ. Quantification of their impact on pavement performance is essential for quality roadway construction, and rational pay adjustment factors. This paper presents an approach to estimate the expected loss (or gain) in pavement performance life resulting from any in situ deviation in the above performance related characteristics from the specified values.