Comparing Methods for Determining In Situ Asphalt Stiffness Using Pavement ME

摘要

The in-situ asphalt stiffness master curve is a critical input for flexible pavement design. The master curve can be established directly by performing dynamic modulus testing on field cores, predicted using the volumetrics of the mixture, binder grade and aggregate gradation established using field cores, or backcalculated using falling weight deflectometer testing. There can be significant differences between the master curves established using these three different methods. The effects of these differences on design were compared using distress predicted by the asphalt pavement design module in Pavement ME. It was found that the method used to determine the in-situ asphalt stiffness can have a significant effect on the predicted distress.