Calibration of HDM-4 models for Indian conditions of flexible pavement having modified bitumen in wearing course

Abstract

India is developing her national highway network through widening and rehabilitation of existing highways along with the construction of expressways in different phases, since 1999. Unprecedented growth of road traffic, high variations in pavement temperature and need of long lasting pavements have increased the use of modified bitumen specifically in wearing courses of many flexible pavement road sections of national highway network in entire country. Crumb rubber-modified bitumen (CRMB) and polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) of different grades are mostly used modified binders under different climatic and environmental conditions. During the design life, bituminous road sections show different rates of initiation and propagation of distresses under varying traffic and climatic conditions. In this study, an effort has been made to calibrate the internationally recognised Highway Development & Management (HDM-4) road deterioration models for the selected flexible pavement sections over time with traffic. The different road distresses are modelled using HDM-4 tool for the newly constructed flexible pavement sections of Indian national highway network having modified binder in bituminous concrete (BC) mixes which are located in different regions of the country. Pavement condition data of 23 in-service flexible pavement sections were collected for three consecutive years starting from 2011 to end of the year 2013. Data collected from the study were analysed for calibration and validation of HDM-4 distress models for similar climatic conditions, pavement compositions and traffic loading characteristics. The results of this study are useful for developing pavement maintenance management strategies for Indian national highway network with similar climatic conditions, pavement compositions and traffic characteristics.

Keywords:

• Crumb rubber-modified bitumen
• Polymer-modified bitumen
• highway development and management

Acknowledgement

The Authors are thankful to present Director, CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), New Delhi for his encouragement and support during the preparation of this paper. The help and cooperation rendered by Shri K. Sitaramanjaneyulu, Senior Principal Scientist & Project Leader and all the staff members of Pavement Evaluation Division of CSIR-CRRI, New Delhi are also thankfully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.