Study On The Development And Selection Optimization Of An Accelerated Pavement Testing Facility For China

A series of pavement related problems, such as premature failure of pavement surface,failure of subbase and base in special geological regions, and poor durability of pavementmaterials used in special geographical conditions, have become the bottleneck constrainingthe infrastructure constructions in China, causing severe social and economical loses. Use ofAccelerated Pavement Testing can help to alleviate the problems. Accelerated PavementTesting (APT) is generally defined as the application of wheel loads to specially constructedor in-service pavements to determine pavement response and performance under a controlledenvironment and accelerated accumulation of damage in a short period of time. It providesquick and reliable test results for evaluating pavement material, pavement design, pavementperformance and other pavement related issues. It can be used as a research tool, or as amanagement tool to determine the best strategies for pavement design, construction, andmaintenance. As a result, APT facilities have been developed in one form or another, fromfixed laboratory loading devices to full-scale test tracks, all over the world. Compared withthe developed countries, China has been slow in adopting the APT for pavement research.The following are the works performed in this thesis: conduct extensive review of theliteratures available related to APT, including the evaluation of the six large APT facilities inthe United States and the APT facility at the Testing Ground of Ministry of Transport inChina; assess the potential benefits of APT for improving the performance of highwaypavements; perform APT domestic needs questionnaire survey and analysis; utilize thehierarchical analysis method to evaluate the type of APT device suitable for use in China;develop appropriate plans for APT facility and management; and perform cost analysis forestablishing APT facility centers in China. It is hoped that the information contains in thisthesis could help the universities and research institutes in this country in their planning,developing, and executing APT research programs and could help the government officials informulating the policies, appropriate funding and approving the APT related programs.The following are the specific areas performed in this thesis:(1) The needs and the benefits of develop APT facilities in China;(2) Literature review of APT for pavement engineering applications;(3) Review existing APT types and comparing their advantageous and disadvantages; (4) Assessment of APT needs in China and suggest plans for developing APT facilitiesand APT organization;(5) Economic analysis for implementing APT facilities.The following are the contributions offered in this thesis:(1) Through thorough literature review and investigation of the APT related topics, thisthesis has provided detailed information regarding the APT facilities, their operations and theapplications in various pavement engineering areas in the world. This would provideimportant information for the officers in the transportation agencies, pavement experts,pavement engineers and the managers in China toward better understanding APT in terms ofthe capabilities and the potential benefits of using the device, planning and acquiring thedevice and developing the testing facilities, and developing APT related research programs.(2) A comprehensive questionnaire survey was developed, which included68questionsregarding the needs and relevancy on the use of APT on various pavement research areas, andthe questionnaire was sent to67pavement experts in China. Analyses of the responsesrevealed the level of experts’ awareness and familiarity on APT and offered usefulinformation regarding the needs and the directions for the APT research in Chin. These wouldprovide a solid base for the country toward establishing APT research initiatives in the future.(3) It has developed the APT Selection Optimization Index System through the use of theUncertainty Analytic Hierarchy Process Method.(4)Through economic analysis and carefully considering the operational efficiency, anappropriate APT device and the corresponding APT testing site and the facility toaccommodate the APT device were proposed.