National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

Project description

This research aims to assess the feasibility of adapting the pavement design program MnPAVE, currently utilized by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT), to meet the specific requirements of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). MnPAVE is an open-source software jointly developed by the Minnesota DOT and the University of Minnesota. To achieve this goal, CDOT-specific climate, material, and traffic data will be collected through materials testing and publicly accessible sources such as OTIS and Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) InfoPave. The open-source code of MnPAVE will be modified to tailor inputs, outputs, and models to CDOT's unique needs for both concrete and asphalt pavements. The resulting "verification program" will align with the principles of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design (MEPD) methodology. A sensitivity analysis will be conducted to compare the outcomes of the verification program with those of MEPD, revealing any disparities. Additionally, the research will determine the calibration coefficients, if required, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the verification program.