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The MEPDG requires four basic categories of traffic inputs for the
structural pavement design (2). First is base year traffic volume.
One important input in this category is annual average daily truck
traffic (AADTT) of Vehicle Classes 4 through 13. This information
can be derived from WIM, AVC, or vehicle count data and is typically available within a state highway agency. The use of the average AADTT for the 3 years immediately before the design base year
is recommended (2).
Second, the base year AADTT must be adjusted by using traffic
volume adjustment factors, including monthly distribution, hourly
distribution, class distribution, and traffic growth factors. These factors can be determined on the basis of the traffic counts obtained from
WIM, AVC, or vehicle count data. NCHRP Project 1-37 researchers
found that roadways within the same functional classication had
signicant variability in truck distribution. Thus, a new grouping
system based on 17 truck traffic classification (TTC) groups was
introduced to define roadway groups in MEPDG (2). The TTC system is based on the distribution of four truck groups: buses, singleunit trucks, single trailers, and multitrailers. Class distribution
factors for a pavement design should be selected on the basis of the
roadway truck traffic classification.
The third input category is axle load distribution factors (axle load
spectra). The axle load distribution factors represent the percentage
of the total axle applications within each load interval for a specic
106
axle type (single, tandem, tridem, and quad) and truck class. The axle
load spectra can be determined only from WIM data. Analyses of
WIM data in the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program database showed that the differences between year-to-year and
month-to-month load spectra were not signicant. Thus, for MEPDG,
axle load spectra can be normalized on an annual basis (2).
The last traffic input category includes general traffic inputs, such
as number of axles per truck, axle conguration, and wheel base.
These data are used in the calculation of traffic loading for determining pavement responses (2). The default values provided for the general traffic inputs are recommended if more accurate data are not
available.
A traffic data collection plan for the MEPDG should follow the
practices outlined in the FHWAs Traffic Monitoring Guide (TMG)
(3). State agencies that currently collect traffic data in accordance
with the TMG would meet the traffic characterization requirements
for the MEPDG. However, in some situations, agencies may not
properly collect detailed traffic data for accurate characterization
of historical and future traffic for design purposes. Thus, the level of
detail of available traffic data is considered in determination of the
reliability of the pavement design by using a hierarchical approach.
Three levels of traffic inputs are defined in MEPDG on the basis
of the detail of traffic data available. It is anticipated that the last
two levels are the most commonly used for both new pavement and
rehabilitation designs (2).
Level 1
Level 1 is considered the most accurate, and thus most reliable, trafc data available, requiring detailed knowledge of historical axle
load spectra, classication, and volume data at or near the project
site. Typically, this level refers to a roadway segment near the design
location with no inuencing intersecting roadways.
107
Level 2
Level 2 is the intermediate traffic input level. It requires substantial
knowledge of design traffic volume and vehicle classication. Level 2
uses statewide or regional axle load spectra, instead of the sitespecific axle load spectra required for Level 1. The analyses of
regional axle load spectra for each truck class must be completed
externally by design agencies.
Level 3
Level 3 is the least accurate or reliable input level in the MEPDG.
It requires only estimates of annual average daily truck traffic
(AADTT) and truck percentages with no site-specic knowledge of
traffic characteristics at the design location. An estimate of traffic
inputs based on local experience is also considered in Level 3.
108
between 8,000 and 12,000 lb, which is the expected range for VC 9
single axles (3, 7). Extensive analyses of single-axle load spectra for
other vehicle classes showed similar results. Thus, it is reasonable to
group the single-axle load spectra for each vehicle class from all WIM
stations for developing statewide single-axle load spectra. Table 1
presents the statewide single-axle load spectra for Arkansas.
The program can be used to develop axle load spectra for a specic
site. The developed axle load spectra can be used for Level 1 design
in the MEPDG software. The program was used to develop axle load
spectra on the basis of suitable weight data from 10 stations. Cluster
analyses were then performed to develop statewide axle load spectra
for Arkansas. These analyses are presented in the following section.
The MEPDG software requires axle load spectra for four axle types,
including single, tandem, tridem, and quad axles. As noted earlier,
only 10 WIM sites in Arkansas provided suitable weight data for
developing axle load spectra. These represented TTC Groups 3, 6,
7, and 10. For Interstates and four-lane highways in Arkansas, the
primary truck class is vehicle class (VC) 9single trailer trucks
which comprise up to 70% of truck traffic (8). Thus, analyses for
developing Arkansas statewide axle load spectra were based on VC 9.
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
0
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
FIGURE 1
580236
71813
720034
740035
480037
170064
460006
230001
600870
430038
45
TABLE 1
109
10
11
12
13
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
11,000
12,000
13,000
14,000
15,000
16,000
17,000
18,000
19,000
20,000
21,000
22,000
23,000
24,000
25,000
26,000
27,000
28,000
29,000
30,000
31,000
32,000
33,000
34,000
35,000
36,000
37,000
38,000
39,000
40,000
41,000
2.641
6.976
4.826
5.517
6.473
6.186
10.021
8.636
11.153
7.798
8.202
5.464
4.888
2.802
2.414
1.422
1.126
0.679
0.651
0.542
0.288
0.325
0.189
0.126
0.107
0.120
0.054
0.062
0.062
0.035
0.059
0.027
0.035
0.039
0.011
0.010
0.035
0.004
0.001
11.089
29.213
16.709
11.963
7.451
4.667
4.711
2.970
2.868
1.725
1.639
1.014
1.010
0.619
0.617
0.376
0.360
0.221
0.210
0.153
0.091
0.089
0.051
0.051
0.030
0.026
0.015
0.017
0.010
0.009
0.005
0.005
0.004
0.004
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.001
1.601
3.982
3.307
4.627
6.378
8.287
15.724
14.774
15.561
8.505
6.580
3.130
2.552
1.346
1.172
0.629
0.546
0.312
0.297
0.191
0.114
0.103
0.060
0.058
0.027
0.030
0.024
0.016
0.014
0.011
0.008
0.009
0.004
0.009
0.005
0.003
0.004
0.002
0.001
0.119
0.566
0.648
1.542
1.971
2.792
7.054
8.952
14.333
13.091
14.594
10.271
8.441
5.271
3.989
1.807
1.928
0.686
0.654
0.380
0.213
0.170
0.084
0.187
0.081
0.048
0.024
0.031
0.017
0.015
0.004
0.004
0.000
0.017
0.000
0.000
0.013
0.000
0.002
8.354
19.658
11.548
9.931
7.976
6.091
7.187
5.042
5.166
3.440
3.519
2.271
2.248
1.430
1.447
0.907
0.896
0.569
0.563
0.436
0.277
0.255
0.160
0.155
0.088
0.090
0.057
0.057
0.034
0.040
0.020
0.022
0.016
0.016
0.012
0.006
0.011
0.005
0.003
0.294
1.313
1.407
2.202
4.240
7.592
18.825
21.041
22.301
10.116
5.909
2.105
1.263
0.529
0.370
0.170
0.124
0.064
0.047
0.030
0.015
0.014
0.008
0.007
0.004
0.004
0.002
0.002
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
1.058
3.705
3.216
4.082
6.172
8.285
15.948
14.930
16.425
9.422
7.215
3.269
2.389
1.109
0.881
0.438
0.380
0.228
0.197
0.149
0.101
0.089
0.060
0.070
0.030
0.020
0.034
0.037
0.003
0.004
0.014
0.017
0.007
0.001
0.003
0.002
0.008
0.000
0.001
0.361
1.545
2.874
6.806
9.282
9.211
14.091
10.435
10.618
7.004
7.571
5.018
4.886
2.967
2.774
1.517
1.233
0.614
0.462
0.274
0.148
0.104
0.050
0.048
0.016
0.016
0.008
0.008
0.024
0.011
0.010
0.009
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.001
0.000
0.000
0.481
2.602
4.130
10.036
13.239
12.182
16.428
11.665
10.666
5.755
5.254
2.471
1.960
0.999
0.834
0.396
0.337
0.155
0.161
0.069
0.040
0.042
0.017
0.012
0.017
0.008
0.007
0.008
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.010
0.010
0.001
0.001
0.000
0.001
0.000
0.000
6.155
10.304
5.735
6.908
6.701
6.324
8.673
5.102
7.266
4.097
6.628
3.535
3.578
3.367
3.468
2.493
2.658
1.250
1.205
1.262
0.527
0.588
0.427
0.508
0.181
0.202
0.193
0.149
0.086
0.096
0.024
0.091
0.053
0.051
0.042
0.025
0.009
0.037
0.004
sample size of 10 WIM sites into smaller groups for analysis may
not significantly improve the design accuracy. In addition, it could
complicate any future MEPDG design process, as the process is
already much more complex than the empirical design procedures
in the 1993 Guide. For this effort, it was most desirable to develop
only one set of statewide axle-load spectra for the initial implementation of the MEPDG. Thus, it was decided to group the tandem-axle
load spectra from the 10 WIM stations for development of statewide
tandem-axle load spectra. The cluster analysis can be performed
later when more data are available. Table 2 presents the statewide
axle load spectra for Arkansas. Some vehicle classes, including VCs
5, 7, and 11, did not have tandem axles, so axle load spectra for these
vehicle classes were not available (and are therefore shown as 0.000
in Table 2).
110
14.0
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Axle Load (kips)
FIGURE 2
580236
71813
720034
740035
480037
170064
460006
230001
600870
430038
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Axle Load (kips)
170064
FIGURE 3
460006
230001
600870
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Axle Load (kips)
720034
FIGURE 4
740035
230001
600870
430038
111
TABLE 2
10
11
12
13
6,000
1.048
0.000
2.788
0.000
7.168
1.186
1.267
0.000
0.416
4.488
8,000
2.336
0.000
9.477
0.000
13.251
3.940
2.549
0.000
1.800
8.243
10,000
1.836
0.000
10.963
0.000
11.831
6.237
2.716
0.000
4.297
6.281
12,000
2.538
0.000
10.010
0.000
11.627
8.563
3.814
0.000
10.014
6.847
14,000
3.965
0.000
10.456
0.000
10.441
8.924
6.530
0.000
10.447
7.326
16,000
3.542
0.000
7.766
0.000
6.841
6.826
7.607
0.000
9.835
6.278
18,000
3.973
0.000
6.678
0.000
5.173
5.962
8.315
0.000
10.847
7.332
20,000
5.528
0.000
5.739
0.000
4.010
5.439
8.499
0.000
13.733
6.117
22,000
7.661
0.000
4.943
0.000
3.314
5.334
7.700
0.000
12.420
5.012
24,000
9.697
0.000
4.266
0.000
3.055
5.625
7.933
0.000
9.828
5.152
26,000
11.085
0.000
4.004
0.000
3.004
6.098
7.479
0.000
6.669
4.730
28,000
11.073
0.000
3.804
0.000
2.908
6.578
6.661
0.000
3.854
5.120
30,000
9.557
0.000
3.530
0.000
2.798
6.783
5.882
0.000
2.644
4.538
32,000
7.768
0.000
3.042
0.000
2.451
6.253
4.803
0.000
1.366
4.305
34,000
6.433
0.000
2.520
0.000
2.095
5.073
4.166
0.000
0.626
3.216
36,000
4.286
0.000
2.096
0.000
1.786
3.684
3.360
0.000
0.375
2.648
38,000
2.434
0.000
1.756
0.000
1.553
2.489
2.655
0.000
0.228
2.182
40,000
1.456
0.000
1.436
0.000
1.281
1.643
2.031
0.000
0.196
2.090
42,000
1.043
0.000
1.215
0.000
1.158
1.174
1.684
0.000
0.119
1.819
44,000
0.756
0.000
0.815
0.000
0.860
0.680
1.217
0.000
0.073
1.511
46,000
0.499
0.000
0.664
0.000
0.705
0.452
0.747
0.000
0.044
1.511
48,000
0.282
0.000
0.480
0.000
0.540
0.308
0.562
0.000
0.062
0.729
50,000
0.184
0.000
0.365
0.000
0.442
0.213
0.456
0.000
0.045
0.497
52,000
0.240
0.000
0.280
0.000
0.361
0.149
0.287
0.000
0.013
0.395
54,000
0.081
0.000
0.213
0.000
0.300
0.105
0.217
0.000
0.011
0.513
56,000
0.102
0.000
0.150
0.000
0.226
0.078
0.235
0.000
0.008
0.368
58,000
0.156
0.000
0.127
0.000
0.174
0.057
0.159
0.000
0.009
0.135
60,000
0.074
0.000
0.092
0.000
0.132
0.041
0.143
0.000
0.004
0.120
62,000
0.076
0.000
0.073
0.000
0.112
0.030
0.105
0.000
0.002
0.068
64,000
0.090
0.000
0.057
0.000
0.092
0.021
0.045
0.000
0.003
0.066
66,000
0.130
0.000
0.045
0.000
0.055
0.016
0.045
0.000
0.005
0.066
68,000
0.007
0.000
0.033
0.000
0.050
0.012
0.023
0.000
0.005
0.023
70,000
0.028
0.000
0.030
0.000
0.041
0.009
0.028
0.000
0.001
0.039
72,000
0.002
0.000
0.024
0.000
0.047
0.008
0.017
0.000
0.001
0.017
74,000
0.030
0.000
0.023
0.000
0.033
0.005
0.016
0.000
0.000
0.048
76,000
0.000
0.000
0.017
0.000
0.035
0.004
0.022
0.000
0.000
0.027
78,000
0.007
0.000
0.014
0.000
0.024
0.003
0.020
0.000
0.003
0.016
80,000
0.000
0.000
0.008
0.000
0.020
0.002
0.005
0.000
0.000
0.019
82,000
0.001
0.000
0.004
0.000
0.009
0.001
0.001
0.000
0.000
0.111
112
ND =
x default xstatewide
100
x default
(1)
Input
where
General information
Type of design
Reliability
Traffic volume
Two-way AADTT
Lanes in design direction
Monthly distribution factors
Vehicle class distribution factors
Hourly distribution factors
Axle load distribution factors
Climate
Asphalt layer
Thickness
Mix
Modulus
Granular base
Thickness
Modulus
Subgrade
Classication
Modulus
ND = normalized difference,
xdefault = predicted distress based on default inputs, and
xstatewide = predicted distress based on statewide inputs.
Flexible
50%
10,000
2
Default
Default
Default
Variable
Fayetteville, AR
11 in.
12.5 mm and PG 70-22
Level 3
14 in.
40,000 psi
A-7-6
5,000 psi
The developed statewide axle load spectra were compared with the
default values with a graphical method. Figure 5 shows a comparison of the statewide and default single-axle load spectra for VC 9
trucks. The statewide distribution is more concentrated between
8,000 and 12,000 lb than the default one. Figure 6 compares the
statewide tandem-axle load spectra for Class 9 trucks with the default
values. The peaks representing unloaded and loaded trucks on the
statewide and default distribution curves were different. For other
vehicle classes, the statewide axle load spectra were also different
from the default values. Such differences in axle load spectra produced questions about the effect on predicted pavement performance
from the use of statewide versus default values.
Figure 7 shows comparisons of the predicted distresses from the
statewide and default axle load spectra. The predicted rutting after
20 years was higher than the design limit of 0.75 in., and the predicted fatigue cracking was lower than the design limit of 25%. Thus,
predicted pavement lives were determined on the basis of the predicted rutting graphs. The average predicted pavement life was about
13 years. Figure 8 shows the normalized differences in predicted
pavement life and predicted pavement distresses after 13 years.
The difference in predicted pavement life was more than 25%.
Because the effect of the differences between the statewide and
default axle load spectra appears significant, it is recommended
that the statewide axle load spectra be used for future design purposes. However, the MEPDG has not been calibrated specically for
Arkansas. While it is not expected that results of sensitivity analyses
such as those described here will be signicantly affected, additional
studies will be performed subsequent to local calibration efforts.
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
0
10
15
20
25
30
Axle Load (kips)
Default
FIGURE 5
35
Statewide
40
45
113
16.0
14.0
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Axle Load (kips)
Default
FIGURE 6
Statewide
1.2
Rutting (in.)
1
0.8
Default
0.6
Statewide
Design Limit
0.4
0.2
0
0
50
100
150
200
Pavement Age (mon.)
250
(a)
5
3
Default
Statewide
2
0
0
50
100
150
Pavement Age (mon.)
200
250
(b)
FIGURE 7 Predicted distresses based on statewide and default axle load
spectra: (a) predicted rutting and (b) predicted fatigue cracking.
114
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Pavement Life
FIGURE 8
Rutting
Predicted Parameters
Cracking
CONCLUSIONS
The following observations and conclusions are based on the development and analysis of statewide axle load spectra for Arkansas:
On the basis of quality control checks on weight data collected
at 25 WIM sites in Arkansas, only 10 stations provided suitable data
for developing statewide axle load spectra. The other sites showed
evidence indicating that scales had failed or were out of calibration.
The Traoad software was unable to import the W-records provided by AHTD. The format of the records was checked carefully,
and the error was unknown. Instead of using the Traoad program,
the researchers developed a computer program for this study.
Statewide single-, tandem-, and tridem-axle load spectra were
developed in this study, but statewide quad-axle load spectra were
not available because few quad axles were found in the data.
Statewide axle load spectra were different from the default
values in the MEPDG. The inuence of the differences between the
statewide and default axle load spectra on pavement performance
predictions provided by the MEPDG software was signicant. The
difference in predicted pavement life can be more than 25%.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations are based on the findings in this
study:
Weight data collected at WIM stations should be checked carefully before it is used for design purposes.
The WEIGHT.xls program developed in this study can be used
to develop axle load spectra for a specic site in the future.
Developed statewide axle load spectra should be used instead
of default values for future design applications.
Statewide axle load spectra should be updated periodically unless
no signicant changes are observed in the future.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This paper was prepared under the research project Projected Traffic
Loading for MechanisticEmpirical Pavement Design Guide, sponsored by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Depart-