PURPOSES : A mechanistic-empirical (ME) predictive design logic that can compute the reflective cracking life of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlaid on top of a composite pavement is proposed herein. METHODS : The overlay thickness design and analysis logic of the HMA were formulated based on the ME concept of reflection crack propagation. Climate data, traffic load data, the pavement material properties, and the thickness of each layer of the pavement are the main inputs for the ME-Reflective Cracking Rate (RCR) prediction algorithm. An Microsoft Excel Virtual Basic for Application (VBA) program was created to aid designers in assessing the expected performance of an HMA overlay design. Calibration was done using data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) sections. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to compare the results yielded by the program and data from a report by the Texas Transportation Institute. RESULTS : The predictive model performance effectively generates the dynamic and relaxation modulus curves. The correlation value of the calibration factors, R2, is 0.79. The calibration factors used for the Asphalt Overlay Thickness Design (AOTD) program and the sensitivity analysis, i.e., k1, k2,, and k3,, are set to 5, 5, and 150, respectively. The sensitivity of the AOTD program affords reasonable results. Additionally, the program yields results similar to the trends presented in a report by the Federal Highway Administration. CONCLUSIONS : The proposed ME design logic is successfully translated into an Excel VBA program, AOTD, which can perform routine assessments of laboratory tests for HMA overlays. The program can effectively perform numerous iterations and computations to predict an HMA overlay. The predictive model can generate reasonable dynamic modulus and relaxation modulus curves for the characterization of HMA overlays. Under the same asphalt binder grade and HMA type, doubling the HMA overlay thickness yields three times the expected reflective cracking service life.

PURPOSES : This study evaluates the long-term performance of the asphalt overlay designed by the Seoul pavement design method which determines overlay thickness by considering existing pavement conditions, traffic volume, and bearing capacity of the pavement. METHODS : A total of 76 sections including 17 control sections and 59 design sections were constructed under various traffic conditions, overlay thicknesses and asphalt mixtures. The performance of the pavements has been monitored up to 60 months in terms of surface distresses, rutting, and longitudinal roughness. The service life of the pavements was estimated to be the period when the Seoul pavement condition index (SPI) becomes 6.0, i.e., a rehabilitation level. RESULTS : Overall, the service life of the pavements was 72 months in the control and 120 months for the design sections. For relatively thinner overlay sections than designed, the service life reduced significantly; 36 months for 15cm thick overlay and 120 months for 25cm thick overlay. The service life of the pavement in the bus-only lane was 78 months, which is 30 months shorter than that in mixed-traffic lanes. Out of the bus-only lanes, 56% of the pavement along bus stop was deteriorated early to be a poor condition while only 2% of the pavement in a driving lane was degraded to be poor. The overlay with Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) in the wearing surface had 38% longer life than that with conventional dense graded mixtures. CONCLUSIONS : Most of the overlays sections designed by the Seoul pavement design method were expected to survive 10 years, except for bus-only lanes. The control sections having 5 to 10 cm thick overlays showed significant lower performance than the design sections. Thus proper thickness and materials considering the characteristics of existing pavement and traffic volumes should be applied to secure the service life of overlays.

PURPOSES : On a thin epoxy overlay pavement, epoxy is placed on the existing bridge deck pavement, followed by the spraying of aggregates on it. The bond strength between the existing pavement and overlay pavement is an important factor representing the performance of the thin epoxy overlay pavement, in addition to the skid resistance and roughness. Therefore, the bond strength, skid resistance, and roughness of a thin epoxy overlay pavement constructed for field tests under various field conditions are examined in this study. METHODS : The usability of epoxy and aggregates on a thin epoxy overlay pavement is identified by testing their material properties in a laboratory. A construction test is performed using the pretreatment conditions of the existing pavement surface and the number of layers of overlay pavement as variables. The bond strength, skid resistance, and roughness are analyzed 3 d after constructing the test pavement, and immediately before and after applying repetitive traffic loadings at 6 months. RESULTS : When the existing pavement is in good condition, as in this study, the bond strength of the thin epoxy overlay pavement is affected more significantly by the existing pavement condition than the material properties of epoxy, in which destruction is indicated in the existing pavement. The skid resistance is affected primarily by the condition of the aggregates sprayed on the epoxy. The pavement on which the aggregates are well sprayed indicate a high skid resistance. The roughness is not affected by any variables, such as the pretreatment conditions, number of thin pavement layers, and repetitive traffic loadings. CONCLUSIONS : A long-term evaluation of the bond strength, skid resistance, and roughness will be conducted on a test pavement. In addition, another construction test will be performed to investigate the performance of a thin epoxy pavement overlaid on a bridge deck pavement under inferior conditions.