Optimal Flexible Pavement Cross-Section Design Using Quantity-Discount Cost Model (123-28)

The effects of using the full pavement cross-section and a quantity-discount on the cost of the construction materials in the Texas Flexible Pavement Design System (FPS) are evaluated in this study. Including the shoulders in the pavement cross-section and the discounted materials cost does change the selections into of the optimal design strategy of new construction. However, the effects are insignificant in overlay construction. A fairly general pavement cross-section model and four quantity-discount cost models have been integrated into the FPS computer program for use by the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation. In addition, a master pavement cross-section model (MPCS) has been devised and coded to calculate the area of any complicated pavement cross-section. The MPCS model provides the information to determine the minimum data requirement to precisely describe an in-service pavement cross-section for use in the pavement feedback data system.