Road Construction Quality and Performance Trade-Offs for Unbound Granular Road Pavements

摘要

This paper presents the results of a pavement construction trial which aimed to provide data on the variabilities achieved during construction of a local road, to determine the cost effectiveness of different levels of construction control, and to determine relationships between pavement performance and pavement and materials properties. The construction processes are described and resultant variabilities of properties such as compaction, deflection, moisture content, material grading, surface levels, roughness and layer thickness are reported and discussed. The effects of different standards of construction control are reported and models quantifying the dependence of pavement performance on pavement properties established, using relative compaction and Benkelman beam maximum rebound deflection as performance indicators. The trial confirmed that the improved construction control program implemented, was effective in significantly reducing the variability of pavement properties and consequently resulted in a substantial improvement in expected relative pavement life at a nominal cost.