Traffic Data Input for Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) for Tennessee

Traffic loading is one of the key inputs for the structural design and analysis of pavement structures using both the AASHTO Guide for Pavement Design (1993) and the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). Traffic data provides necessary information in terms of traffic load distributions, intensity and number of repetitions. While the AASHTO design method use the number of axle load repetitions in the design/ analysis period in terms of equivalent singe axle loads (ESALS), the MEPDG on the contrary requires proper traffic characterization to determine traffic parameters required as inputs for the pavement design process. MEPDG was developed by the National Cooperative Highway Research Programs (NCHRP), Project 1-37A (2004), to provide pavement engineers with a more effective design guide that responds to changing design inputs, needs and the environment. The implementation of the MEPDG requires a large number of design inputs that characterizes traffic, pavement materials and climate. To facilitate the design process, MEPDG provides a hierarchical approach for traffic data input requirements, known as level 1, 2 and 3 [NCHRP, 2004]. Level 1: Site specific data with very good knowledge of past and future traffic characteristics Level 2: Regional or statewide data, with modest knowledge of past and future traffic characteristics. Level 3: Poor or limited knowledge of past and future traffic characteristics. UTC is studying Tennessee traffic data in order to provide TDOT with calibrated traffic data input parameters for MEPDG level 2.

• Record URL:
  https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/long-range-planning/research/final-reports/RES2016-22%20Final%20Report%20-%20Approved.pdf

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $220,366.95
• Contract Numbers:

  RES2016-22

  IG1647829

  IG1858997

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Tennessee Department of Transportation

  James K. Polk Building
  Fifth and Deaderick Street
  Nashville, TN  United States  37243-0349

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Tennessee Department of Transportation

  James K. Polk Building
  Fifth and Deaderick Street
  Nashville, TN  United States  37243-0349
• Project Managers:

  Udeh, S

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

  615 McCallie Avenue, Department 4905
  Chattanooga, TN  United States  37403
• Principal Investigators:

  Onyango, M

• Start Date: 20151001
• Expected Completion Date: 20190930
• Actual Completion Date: 20200625
• USDOT Program: Transportation, Planning, Research, and Development

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Equivalent single axle loads; Traffic data; Traffic loads
• Identifier Terms: Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01708161
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Tennessee Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: RES2016-22, IG1647829, IG1858997
• Files: RiP
• Created Date: Jun 21 2019 12:58PM