‘Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide’ Sensitivity Analysis: Binder Properties

About the project:

The objective of this project is to support implementation of the proposed Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) in Virginia.  This shall be accomplished by investigating the effect of changes in asphalt-binder properties on the predicted distress levels for trial pavement designs evaluated using the Design Guide application. 

An initial catalog of binder properties will be compiled by testing a sampling of asphalt binders commonly used in Virginia.  Several data sets of properties for PG 64-22 binders already are available and will be used to determine the need for additional testing to provide supplementary data for other grades or suppliers. 

This data will be used to evaluate the sensitivity of the Design Guide to changes in binder properties and assess the need for future comprehensive binder testing.  If the sensitivity analysis indicates that comprehensive binder testing is not necessary, this study will provide a catalog of binder property values that pavement designers can use as input values to the Design Guide.

Project Team

Principal Investigators