PAVING THE WAY

The construction of concrete pavements that would: need less maintenance, save money on repair expenditures, and reduce traffic disruptions is the ultimate goal of state highway design and maintenance personnel. This article provides an overview of a new software package, called HIPERPAV, that is intended to help achieve these goals. HIPERPAV is a user-friendly, Microsoft Windows-based computer tool that uses dozens of models to predict the early-age behavior of pavements, which influences long-term performance and durability. With a wide range of applications, HIPERPAV is used in the planning stage to develop specifications for quality control based on the available materials and climatic conditions of the region where the roadway will be constructed. Designers can use HIPERPAV to optimize their pavement designs, and contractors can use HIPERPAV to help prevent expensive repair jobs and determine the best set of variables to forestall damage.