Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design: A Brief Overview

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the state of the art of mechanistic-empirical pavement design, as established by NCHRP Study 1-37A in the United States. It describes the method used to characterize traffic loading and materials, as well as the methods used to analyse flexible and rigid pavement response and calculate damage. This methodology is referred as the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guise (MEPDG) and was recently implemented into the commercially available software referred to as the AASHTOWare Pavement Mechanistic Empirical Design.