Performance Evaluation and Determination of Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of Flexible Pavement

Civil Engineering

In India, the growth of road traffic in the post-Independence era has been quite unprecedented, both in terms of goods and passenger traffic. The vehicular traffic has increased manifolds from 0.3 million to 45 million during the period 1951-2001. But unfortunately, the growth in the road network has not been commensurate with the huge growth in vehicular population, which has increased from 0.4 million km to just 3.3 million km, during the same period. Thus, there is a need of developing a scientific approach towards determining the maintenance and rehabilitation requirements of pavements. The development and practice of an efficient Pavement Management System (PMS) would provide objective information and useful analysis to ensure consistent and cost-effective decisions related to preservation of the highway network. The objective of this research work is to describe the development of a Pavement Management System (PMS) for an identified National Highway (NH) network in India. This PMS has been necessitated to assist the engineers responsible for maintaining the NH network, as well as the authorities responsible for allocating funds, in making consistent and cost effective decisions, related to maintenance management of the NH network. The internationally recognized Highway Development and Management System (HDM-4), has been customized and used to predict future economic, and technical outcome of possible investment decisions concerning maintenance management of the NH network. The pavement deterioration models incorporated in HDM-4 have been calibrated and adapted to local conditions. An unconstrained works programme has been prepared for an analysis period of 10 years and the total budget requirements for maintaining the NH network at a pre-defined maintenance serviceability level have been determined. An optimized and prioritized works programme has also been prepared to maintain the NH network within the available budget. The effects of reducing budget levels, and deferring maintenance works on the condition of the highway network will also be taken into consideration. From the various given alternatives of M & R strategies, the optimum M & R strategy will be chosen based on the life cycle cost, maintenance and budget constraints.

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