Pavement preservation can be a very effective tool to extend functional and structural integrity of existing highways before they need major rehabilitation or replacement. There are no general guidelines available for developing performance-related specifications (PRS) for pavement preservation treatments that correlate key engineering properties to treatment quality and long-term performance. This paper documents the process to facilitate development of PRS for pavement preservation treatments that provide a direct relationship of key construction characteristics to the performance. The development process for preservation treatments has unique differences when compared with that of rehabilitation and new construction of pavement. The differences include; non-structural nature of preservation treatments, functional performance measures, and construction materials and processes. The process developed in the paper is demonstrated with the help of an example for micro-surfacing treatment. Micro-surfacing treatment can improve surface friction and address minor surface irregularities. Typically, the treatment is employed to address surface friction problem on an existing asphalt surface. Mean profile depth (MPD) was selected as an acceptance quality characteristic (AQC) because it is an essential component of macro-texture and surface friction (performance measure) and can be measured after construction by using high-speed laser measurement devices. Simulated pavement data were used to demonstrate a relationship between the AQC (before and after the treatment) and expected performance (life extension). The relationship was used to develop pay factors for pay adjustments (i.e., incentives and disincentives). The example also demonstrates the use of quality measure limits and their impact on the contractor's and agency's risks.
展开▼
