Author(s):
R.K. Kher, B.F. McCullough, W.R. Hudson
Publication Date
1971
Abstract
Flexible Pavement System FPS2 is a design concept formulated into a computer program which analyzes flexible pavements utilizing an overall systems approach to the problem. The program uses 45 different types of inputs in the broad categories of design constraints, design variables, and cost variables. The design alternatives are analyzed by using economic concepts.|This report describes a sensitivity analysis performed to establish the relative importance and cost sensitivities of the different variables on the system, study changes in the structural designs generated due to changes in the variable values, and completely debug the program to find anomalies and the problem areas.| An experiment was designed to obtain the required information. Three basic solutions were obtained at three basic levels of the variables; low, average, and high. The sensitivity of each variable was studied at each of these three basic levels by changing the value of the particular variable to the other two levels. A total of over 400 problems were solved for this analysis.|Each problem thus solved was analyzed carefully for the overall cost of the optimal design and its different cost constituents, design thickness obtained, and number of feasible designs generated. Based on the design and cost sensitivities, the variables producing similar effects were grouped together. The variables were rated in the order of their importance with respect to the overall cost of the optimal design. Recommendations are made in two general areas, (1) that of using the computer program and (2) that of achieving better sensitivity analysis information for a similar experiment if performed in the future.|It is concluded that FPS2 gives generally reasonable solutions, the variables are sensitive to various degrees with respect to costs and structural designs, and the traffic and material properties are the most important parameters of the system.
Report Number:
CTR 123-8
Keywords:
Analysis, Computer program, flexible pavements, Pavement Design, Sensitivity Analysis, systems analysis
Link(s):
No electronic version is availalble. Please contact the TTI Library for assistance.
Publication/Product Request
TTI reports and products are available for download at no charge. If an electronic version is not available and no instructions on how to obtain it are given, contact the TTI Library.