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7.90. Pavement Engineering (Mandatory)

7.90.1. Justification ↑ Back to top

Pavement Engineering is the pavement design and management course of the Vialidad, Geomática y Transporte (DAVG) track, building on the cross-section, subgrade, and earthwork concepts introduced in Highway Geometric Design (CE2T5) to address how flexible and rigid pavement structures are characterized, designed, evaluated, and managed throughout their service life. The course opens with pavement materials and characterization, covering pavement types and structural components, asphalt binder and mixture properties, aggregate properties and gradation requirements, and sustainable pavement technologies and recycling. It then develops pavement design and management, covering traffic load characterization and the design equivalent single axle load (ESAL), flexible pavement design using empirical methods, rigid pavement design and joint systems, and mechanistic-empirical design methods. Building on this design foundation, the course covers pavement condition evaluation and maintenance planning, including performance prediction and deterioration mechanisms, visual distress surveys and the pavement condition index (PCI), roughness measurement, structural evaluation using deflection testing, and maintenance and rehabilitation program planning. The course closes with road and bridge asset management, covering inventory and condition assessment, deterioration models and prioritization criteria, and life-cycle cost analysis for network-level preservation – providing the materials, design, evaluation, and asset-management foundation required for professional practice in pavement engineering.

7.90.2. Generales Goals ↑ Back to top

1. Characterize asphalt binders and mixtures, evaluate aggregate quality, and apply sustainable pavement technologies and recycling.
2. Compute the design equivalent single axle load (ESAL) from traffic composition and growth projections.
3. Design flexible pavements using empirical methods and rigid pavements with appropriate joint systems.
4. Apply mechanistic-empirical methods for pavement design and predict pavement performance and distress mechanisms.
5. Conduct visual distress surveys, compute the pavement condition index (PCI), and perform structural evaluation using deflection testing.
6. Develop maintenance and rehabilitation program plans based on remaining service life estimation.
7. Apply condition indices, deterioration models, and life-cycle cost analysis to plan and budget road and bridge asset management programs.

7.90.3. Contribution to Outcomes ↑ Back to top

ABET-1) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. (Usage)

ABET-2) An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. (Usage)

ABET-6) An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. (Usage)

7.90.4. Content ↑ Back to top

7.90.4.1. Pavement Materials and Characterization (10 hours) [Skills ABET-6] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Roberts et al., 1996; Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones del Perú, 2014)

Topics

1. Pavement types and structural components
2. Asphalt binder and mixture properties
3. Aggregate properties and gradation requirements
4. Subgrade characterization and stabilization
5. Sustainable pavement technologies and recycling

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify pavement types and describe their structural functions [Familiarity]
2. Characterize asphalt binders and design asphalt mixtures [Assessment]
3. Evaluate aggregate quality for pavement applications [Usage]
4. Assess subgrade strength and specify stabilization treatments [Assessment]
5. Incorporate sustainable practices and recycled materials in pavement design [Familiarity]

7.90.4.2. Pavement Design and Management (44 hours) [Skills ABET-1,ABET-2] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Huang, 2004; AASHTO, 1993b)

Topics

1. Traffic load characterization and equivalent single axle load (ESAL) computation
2. Design reliability, serviceability, and drainage/environmental factors in pavement design
3. Flexible pavement design using empirical methods
4. Rigid pavement design and joint systems
5. Mechanistic-empirical pavement design methods
6. Pavement performance prediction and distress mechanisms
7. Rehabilitation strategies and overlay design
8. Pavement management systems and life-cycle cost analysis

Learning Outcomes

1. Compute the design equivalent single axle load (ESAL) from traffic composition and growth projections [Usage]
2. Determine design reliability, serviceability, and drainage/environmental parameters for flexible and rigid pavement design [Assessment]
3. Design flexible pavements using AASHTO or equivalent methods [Assessment]
4. Proportion rigid pavement thickness and design joint spacing [Usage]
5. Apply mechanistic-empirical methods for pavement design [Usage]
6. Predict pavement performance and identify distress mechanisms [Assessment]
7. Select appropriate rehabilitation strategies and design overlays [Usage]
8. Implement pavement management systems and perform life-cycle analysis [Assessment]

7.90.4.3. Pavement Condition Evaluation and Maintenance Planning (15 hours) [Skills ABET-6] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Shahin, 2005; ASTM International, 2020)

Topics

1. Visual distress surveys and pavement condition index (PCI) computation
2. Pavement roughness measurement and the international roughness index (IRI)
3. Structural evaluation using deflection testing (falling weight deflectometer, Benkelman beam)
4. Backcalculation of pavement layer moduli and structural capacity assessment
5. Remaining service life estimation and rehabilitation treatment selection
6. Maintenance and rehabilitation program planning and scheduling

Learning Outcomes

1. Conduct visual distress surveys and compute the pavement condition index (PCI) [Usage]
2. Explain pavement roughness measurement methods and interpret the international roughness index [Familiarity]
3. Perform structural evaluation of in-service pavements using deflection testing methods [Usage]
4. Backcalculate pavement layer moduli from deflection basin data [Assessment]
5. Estimate the remaining service life of a pavement and select an appropriate treatment [Assessment]
6. Develop maintenance and rehabilitation program plans and schedules [Usage]

7.90.4.4. Road and Bridge Asset Management (5 hours) [Skills ABET-2] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Shahin, 2005; Huang, 2004)

Topics

1. Inventory, inspection, and condition assessment of roads and bridges
2. Condition indices, deterioration models, and prioritization criteria for maintenance and rehabilitation programs
3. Life-cycle cost analysis and budgeting for road and bridge network preservation

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the fundamentals of an infrastructure asset management system for roads and bridges [Familiarity]
2. Apply condition indices and prioritization criteria to plan maintenance and rehabilitation actions for a road or bridge network [Usage]
3. Analyze life-cycle cost to budget preservation programs for road and bridge infrastructure [Assessment]

7.90.5. Bibliography ↑ Back to top

Roberts, F. L., Kandhal, P. S., Brown, E. R., Lee, D.-Y., and Kennedy, T. W. (1996). Hot Mix Asphalt Materials, Mixture Design, and Construction. NAPA Education Foundation, 2nd edition.

Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones del Perú (2014). Manual de carreteras: Suelos, geología, geotecnia y pavimentos. Technical report, Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones.

Huang, Y. H. (2004). Pavement Analysis and Design. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2nd edition.

AASHTO (1993b). Aashto guide for design of pavement structures. Technical report, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Shahin, M. Y. (2005). Pavement Management for Airports, Roads, and Parking Lots. Springer, 2nd edition.

ASTM International (2020). Standard practice for roads and parking lots pavement condition index surveys. Technical Report D6433, ASTM International.