Background
Two-day Brain storming session on
Design of Flexible Pavements - Current
Practices and Future Directions for India
May 12-13, 2023
m
Prof. M. Amaranatha Reddy
Dr. Kranthi Kumar Kuna and
Prof. K. Sudhakar Reddy
Transportation Engineering Section
Department of Civil Engineering
IIT Kharagpur
In Association with
I
Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways, New Delhi
Partnering Institutions
Indian Institute of Technology,
Roorkee
Indian Institute of Technology,
•
Kanpur
Birla Institute of Technology and
Science, Hyderabad campus
Participants
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH)
sanctioned a coordinated research project "Development of
Damage Prediction-based Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement
Design Guidelines for Indio". The broad objective of the
research project is to develop an improved flexible pavement
design procedure based on incremental damage approach.
The research project will be carried out jointly by Ill Kharagpur
(coordinating institute), IIT Roorkee, IIT Kanpur and BITS Pilani
Hyderabad campus.
As per the current guidelines (!RC: 37-2018), flexible
pavements are designed to serve satisfactorily without
developing excessive rutting and cracking distresses during
the service period of the pavement. The performance of the
pavement (rutting and cracking) is explained in terms of the
theoretically computed critical strains/stresses with the help
of different performance criteria. The performance of the
pavement (rut depth, percentage cracking, etc) after a
specified period of traffic operation cannot be estimated
using !RC: 37-2018.
The proposed research project, to be carried out by the four
institutes, has the following major components: (a) periodic
collection of performance data (rutting, top-down cracking,
bottom-up cracking and roughness) of different flexible
pavements located in different parts of the country having
different compositions and subjected to different traffic and
climatic conditions over a period of about three years (b) carry-
out necessary laboratory investigations for understanding the
plastic deformation and fracture behaviour of different
pavement materials (c) development of a new linear elastic
layer pavement analysis tool with capability to estimate the
cumulative rutting and cracking damage with the help of
analysis and laboratory material models (d) calibration of the
distress prediction models developed in (c) using field
performance data
The proposed improved flexible pavement design will be
similar to the Mechanistlc-Empir/col Pavement Design Gulde
(MEPDG}, used in different states of the USA having predictive
models for different types of distresses including roughness.
Identified limited number of participants having keen interest in
the design and construction of flexible pavements and their
performance. Engineers and scientists from organizations such
as MoRTH, NHAI, BRO, NHIDCL, NRRDA, state PWD, consultancy
firms, contractors, academic institutions, R&D establishments,
are expected to participate in the brain storming session and
give feedback on the proposed research work and any other key
issues they want the research team to consider.
The participants will be expected to share their experience
about the performance of different types of pavements
(success as well as failure stories), advise about the
identification of test sections in different parts of the country
and explore the possibility of contributing to the research
project directly or indirectly. Each of the invited participants will
be given the opportunity to share their views on the proposed
research project and other issues related to IRC: 37-2018
provisions and recommendations.
The participants are expected to bear the expenses related to
travel and accommodation at IIT Kharagpur as the fund is yet to
be released for the project. The hosts will be grateful to the
participants for their voluntary participation and advice.
Accommodation
Arrangements are made to accommodate 25 participants in
the New Guesthouse (NGH), IIT, Kharagpur campus on
chargeable basis. Single person (AC room) charge/day: Rs.
l0oo+ 12% GST. Payment should be made during checking out
time.
Venue
Two-day brainstorming session will be held in the seminar room
of the Civil engineering department, IIT, Kharagpur.
Contact details
Prof. M. Amaranatha Reddy, Professor, Department of Civil
Engineering, /IT Kharagpur 721 302;
Email : manreddy@iitkqp.ac.in: Mobile: 9434737788
(or)
Dr. Kranthl Kumar Kuna, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil
Engineering, /IT Kharagpur 721 302
Email : kranthi@civil.iitkgp.ac.in: Mobile: 9985729800
 A Research Proposal on
Development of Damage Prediction-based Mechanistic-Empirical
Pavement Design Guidelines for India
Sponsored by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)

• Indian Institute of Kharagpur (Coordinating Institute)

Partnering institutions
• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
• BITS Pilani, Hyderabad

1 Motivation
Indian highways, both high volume and low volume, predominantly consist of bituminous pavements. The
bituminous layers in these pavements are prone to failure, primarily due to cracking and rutting caused by
various factors, including both load and non-load associated reasons. The existing Indian guidelines for
pavement design (IRC:37) focus solely on addressing the issue of bottom-up cracking, which occurs in
thinner bituminous layers. However, they do not directly address the phenomenon of top-down cracking,
where cracks initiate at the top of thick bituminous layers and propagate downwards. This omission in the
current design guidelines is a significant gap that needs to be addressed. Furthermore, there are other types
of cracking, such as reflection cracking and low-temperature cracking, which also need to be accounted for
in the design approach. While the Indian guidelines offer measures to control wheel path rutting by
managing the vertical stresses and strains on the subgrade, which is the weakest pavement layer, they do
not provide criteria for estimating rutting in different layers, including the subgrade, unbound granular
layers, and bituminous layers. Moisture damage is expected to be mitigated through the proper selection of
bituminous mixes and moisture damage resistance treatments. However, there is a need to distinguish the
fatigue and rutting performance of different mixes prepared using different binders, considering additional
relevant material parameters rather than solely relying on elastic moduli and/or mix volumetric parameters.

2 Objective
The broad objective of the proposal is to develop an improved procedure for the mechanistic-empirical
design of the new and rehabilitated bituminous pavements based on the incremental damage approach. This
objective can be accomplished by the following;
I. Develop comprehensive mechanistic-empirical pavement design based on incremental damage
concept.
2. Develop a rational procedure that accounts for the time and environment dependency of the design
inputs.
3. Modify existing or develop new performance models (IRC:37) that support the incremental
damage-based design procedure.
4. Develop performance models for top-down cracking of bituminous layers and permanent
deformation within rut susceptible pavement layers (bituminous and granular).
/
,.--
Develop a performance model for road roughness as a function of pavement distress and subgrade
5.
characteristics.
Furthermore, the study proposes to modify the existing performance models for Bottom-up cracking in
bituminous layers and cracking in Cement Treated Base (CTB) layers.

3 Research Need
The existing design guidelines for bituminous pavements in India, called the Mechanistic-Empirical (M-E)
design guidelines in the IRC-37, have limitations that can result in a discrepancy between analytical
predictions and field observations of pavement performance. One major limitation is the assumptions made
regarding material and traffic inputs in the pavement design process. The material properties and
environmental effects on them are assumed to be equivalent, and the traffic input is simplified. To address
these limitations, an incremental damage approach can be adopted for evaluating the pavement structure,
which accounts for the change in material properties and allows for predicting the progression of
deterioration. Environmental factors and top-down cracking models also need to be considered to provide
a more realistic design approach. Reliability can be incorporated into the design process to account for
uncertainties in input factors.

4 Features of the proposed approach

The proposed pavement design approach includes the procedures for designing new and rehabilitated
bituminous pavement systems with a wide range of pavement layers. The incremental damage approach
will be introduced in the design for the adequacy analysis of all pavement layers. The improved
methodology allows for considering the axle load spectrum for pavement analysis in each incremental time
period, the effect of loading frequency on the elastic modulus of the asphalt material, and the resilient
modulus of the unbound materials. The effect of temperature and moisture on the material properties will
be considered, and models will be developed to predict moisture content and pavement temperature.
Performance models will be developed to estimate structural distress and pavement surface roughness.

5 Expected Beneficial outcomes from the proposed research project

These outcomes include a reduced frequency of premature failures due to more accurate performance
predictions, broader applicability and greater adaptability of the design approach for both new and
rehabilitation designs, versatility in considering a wide variety of material options, the ability to optimize
the design by evaluating the sensitivity of each distress type to different design inputs, and a modular design
procedure that can be continually enhanced over time without the need for a complete overhaul.

6 Broad methodology
Considering the scope of the research proposal and the availability of similar competence in some other
technical institutions of India the project will be handled as a multi-institutional project. The proposal is
jointly submitted by UT Kharagpur (IITKGP, coordinating institute), IIT Roorkee (IITR), IIT Kanpur
{IITK) and BITS Pilani (BITS, 'Hyderabad campus).

The proposed methodology involves each institution working on different modules for the incremental
damage approach over the design period, which considers the effect of time and environment on design
inputs. To develop more realistic material property prediction models, traffic and climatic parameters will
be considered. The performance prediction models will be developed by comparing predictions from

2
 laboratory-based or mechanistic-based theoretical models to observed field data, calibrated to develop
mechanistic-empirical performance models, and reliability will be incorporated based on the residuals
observed for these models. Pavement temperature and moisture prediction models will be developed
through data collection.
Performance models (All the institues)•

PD in unbound PDinHMA
materials (ITTR) (IITKGP)
Climatic Material input Traffic
models models (IlTR loading
(llTKGP) & IlTKGP) considerations cracking in crB TDCinHMA
and BUC in lli\1A (BITS)
(IITK)

Incremental damage approach

Hicrarcbal Design Reliability analysis

Inpnts (All the (IJTKGP)
institues)

T
Documentation and
Analysis and design
Software (IITKGP)

Figure 1 Overview of the modules of the methodology

6.1 Laboratory or theoretical models for distress prediction

To predict pavement rutting, the proposed approach estimates plastic strain in each sub-layer of the rut-
susceptible layers, using a model specific to the layer type (unbound or bituminous). The accumulated
permanent deformation over a given analysis period is then determined ..

PD = Lf=i E~h;
PD = Rutting in the pavement layer, n = number of sub-layers, E~ = plastic deformation in the sub-layer i,

hi is the thickness of sub-layer i.

To select a laboratory model for rutting in the asphalt layer, widely used models will be reviewed, with a
focus on those based on the plastic strain/resilient strain ratio (Ep/Er), as well as the number of load
repetitions and temperature. The chosen model must also be calibrated. The applicability of the NCHRP J-
37A rutting model, which applies to both bituminous layers, will also be considered.

Ep = /31 ar/J2b NfJ,c

Er
Where, a, b, c are the regression coefficients that can be obtained from the statistical analysis on the
laboratory permanent deformation data that were obtained at different stress levels (resilient strain levels)
and temperatures.

L .J
r

For predicting the permanent stram · m

· the sub-layers ofth e un bound layers, the modified Tseng and Lytton
..
(1989) model that employs various · material· properties
· sue h as water content, stress. state. and res1hent
behaviour
· of the matenal
· ·1s considered.
· The mo e as a op e 1
d I d t d ·n MEPDG is shown m equation below. The
applicability of this model form will be evaluated based on Tri-axial test data collected for various str~ss
levels (deviator and bulk stress) and water contents (or degree of saturation) for differ,ent unbound material
types.

Oa (N) = P1 (~) e-(f)'1 Evh

Where, &. = the permanent deformation in the layer, N = the number of load repetitions, Eo, and P =
material properties of unbound layers that are dependent on the water content, stress level and resilient
modulus of the material, Ev= the average vertical strain obtained by the response model, E, = the resilient
strain of the unbound material as a function of mix properties, h = the thickness of the layer,~= calibration
factors.

To address the issue of unrealistic designs for pavements with thin asphalt layers that have compressive
strains at the bottom, an additional parameter will be incorporated into the existing fatigue cracking model
from IRC:37-2108. Mechanistic prediction of top-down cracking will be attempted using damage models
based on viscoelastic continuum damage or fracture mechanics-based models that can integrate the
environmental and traffic loading effects.

6.2 Field pavement performance data collection and calibration

A four-year pavement performance data collection program will be implemented, covering all climatic
zones in the country. The program will include sections with varying traffic volumes, ages, climatic
conditions, base materials, subgrades, and distress types. The collected data will be used to calibrate and
validate theoretical distress models for rutting, cracking, and roughness. The roughness model will be
developed based on the outputs from other distress models and environmental factors.
6.3 Climatic and material input models
Evaluate pavement temperature models in literature for use in India by assessing availability of
meteorological and material property data, and historical pavement temperature data for calibration.
Develop a final model to estimate pavement temperature at any depth and time of day, using input
parameters of daily max/min air temperature and mean monthly max/min air temperature. Also, develop a
model to predict pavement moisture content using precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, and water
table depth data. Finally, develop models for relevant modulus adjustment factors as a function of
temperature and moisture content history profile.

6.4 Reliability incorporation and software development

The proposed approach requires reliability factors that are functions of statistical parameters for the input
data. These functions will be developed using the Monte Carlo Simulation. The input data for the
simulations will be the probability distribution of the important design inputs. The most important inputs
will be identified based on the output of the simulations. The proposed study will also develop user-friendly
software that integrates all the steps of the proposed approach.