Guide for Implementing Performance Specifications

Many state departments of transportation (DOTs) are implementing performance specifications for asphalt pavements and portland/alternative cement concrete. This is being done to improve long-term durability, encourage contractor innovation, better align design requirements with construction, and introduce rational pay adjustments tied to predicted project life. Ongoing initiatives such as Performance Engineered Concrete Mixes for portland/alternative cement concrete and Balanced Mix Designs for asphalt pavements lend themselves to a performance specification approach by introducing higher level test methods more directly related to material performance. Introduction of these test methods and mix design criteria will have a major impact on existing quality assurance (QA) programs. Agencies will need to make informed decisions regarding applicability of new tests to process control, quality control, and acceptance. Lot and sublot sizes may need to be adjusted to account for test time and complexity. Quantity of material obtained for testing may need to be increased. Technician training and certification programs will need to be addressed, as will laboratory qualification and accreditation programs. Independent Assurance (IA) procedures will need to be developed and the impact on dispute resolution programs assessed. Precision and bias of the newer test methods will need to be determined, along with appropriate specification limits for various quality characteristics. New approaches to pay adjustments will need to be developed. Transportation agencies will benefit from a guide for implementing performance specifications for both asphalt pavement and portland/alternative cement concrete. The transition from current QA practices that often rely on properties such as aggregate gradation or mixture volumetrics to practices based on performance criteria will be challenging and will introduce new risks for the state DOTs and contractors. Providing comprehensive guidance to the DOTs on the impact of performance-related and -based testing on the core elements of QA will help this transition occur in a controlled fashion and could help minimize risk to both parties during the implementation process. The objective of this research is to develop a guide to assist state DOTs and industry in implementing performance specifications for asphalt pavements and portland/alternative cement concrete. The research shall focus on the integration of tests and procedures used in performance specifications into QA systems. The guide shall specifically address, but not be limited to, implementation activities such as using pilot projects and shadow specifications, establishing appropriate control and specification limits, gaining buy-in from agency and industry personnel, and managing risk. The research excludes development, refinement, or modification of specific performance tests.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4751

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $600000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 10-107

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Harrigan, Edward

• Performing Organizations:

  Applied Research Associates, Inc.

  100 Trade Centre Drive, Ste 200
  Champaign, IL  United States  61820-7233
• Principal Investigators:

  Rao, Shreenath

• Start Date: 20200305
• Expected Completion Date: 20220305
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt mixtures; Concrete; Guidelines; Impacts; Implementation; Performance measurement; Quality assurance; Specifications; Test procedures
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01707724
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 10-107
• Files: TRB, RiP
• Created Date: Jun 3 2019 3:17PM