Development of statistical deterioration model for low volume roads in Indian scenario

Abstract

Pavement serviceability is the concept representing the level of service that pavement structure offers to the road users. International Roughness Index (IRI) and Present Serviceability index (PSI) are the parameters which are used to represent the performance of pavement. Road roughness is considered to be themost important parameter affecting vehicle operating costs which account for a large proportion of total transport costs. Roughness is concerned with vehicle vibration, operating speed and wear & tear of the wheels. It affects the road user cost to a significant extent. Therefore, roughness of the pavement plays the decisive role in exercising the option of implementing the optimum maintenance and rehabilitation strategies of the road network at appropriate time. Four study stretches, which include conventional and treated, each of 400 m long were selected. The pavement distresses are collected, processed and analysed for developing a deterioration model. Pavement distress viz cracking, rutting, ravelling, potholes, patching were measured. Rating (both visual and ride rating) studies were also carried. An attempt ismade to develop International Roughness Index equation for the selected study stretches. A model is developed to correlate International Roughness Index (IRI) with different types of pavement distresses.