Determination of residual life in flexible pavements
In the field of pavement rehabilitation design, one finds a prominent absence of uniformity in the principles of calculation, a lack of clarity as to the testing methods, and a confusion of basic physical concepts. An example of this situation is the residual life of the pavement structure, which constitutes an important measure in the calculation of pavement bearing capacity. The basic question of how to establish such a parameter in practice is discussed in this paper by examining the relationships between the residual life parameter and the pavement surface state, the pavement structural state, the pavement functional state, and the effects of asphalt fatigue or the total structural deterioration on the residual life-span. Finally, this paper suggests a method for including the residual life parameter within the design process of flexible pavement rehabilitation. Key words: cracking, damages, deflection, permanent deformation, evaluation, fatigue, flexible pavements, overlay, rehabilitation, service level, visual testing.