2023 - USA - Concrete Pavement IRI Prediction Using Transverse Cracking

A methodology was proposed that can improve pavement smoothness prediction. As an initial attempt, smoothness due to solely transverse cracking was investigated. The new model incorporated amplitudes and wavelengths of transverse crack which are directly related to IRI computation. The crack amplitude and wavelength were measured by automated profiler from the MnRoad test roads and formulized with mathematical form expressed with respect to various crack depths and widths, respectively. Instead of conventional severity criteria, crack severities could be determined by crack depth and width in the mathematical form. Utilizing digital signal processing techniques, cracked surfaces with various severities were successfully prepared. The computed IRI values were found to be significantly related to crack severities expressed by width and depth. Then, an IRI prediction model was derived containing the simulated various crack severities and crack occurrences. Ultimately, the IRI model was validated using transverse crack performance data from MnRoad. The model incorporated spectral information that could fundamentally and accurately predict IRI increment by crack. This confirmed the necessity of incorporation of amplitude and wavelength information in predicting IRI.