VESYS5 Rutting Model Calibrations with Local Accelerated Pavement Test Data and Associated Implementation (9-1502-01-2)

The Texas Department of Transportation (Tx DOT) in cooperation with the Federal HighwayAdministration (FHWA) has established a Pooled Fund Study. The objective of this study is to integrate the accelerated pavement test technologies of Texas and other participating states with modeling capabilities developed by the FHWA in their Truck Pavement Interaction (TPI) program. This study will focus on the calibration and implementation of the latest version of the TPI software: VESYS5 to address truck size and weight policy issues related to the economic impact of heavy loads along the NAFTA corridor. This report summarizes the research accomplishments of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). First, a comprehensive framework of calibrating performance model using APT data is developed. Then, as the full case study, TxMLS data on US281 are used to calibrate the VESYS5 model. The reasonable rutting parameters (GNU and ALPHA) of asphalt mixtures are backcalculated and used to calibrate the laboratory-determined rutting parameters which are measured based on the test protocol developed at TTI. In addition, the effectiveness of VESYS test methodology is validated by US281-SPS1 and LA-ALF field data. The information of truck size and weight in the U. S., Mexico, and Canada is compiled based on the comprehensive literature review. Then this information is used as the input of the calibrated VESYS5 model to demonstrate the influence of different types of trucks in the U. S., Mexico, and Canada on pavement rutting damage.