Use of NDT data for predicting pavement deformation

Permanent deformation is a serious distress in an asphalt pavement that can have a great impact on its structural condition and serviceability. Prediction of pavement deformation is a complex task due to the fact that it is affected by many factors, including environmental and traffic conditions, structural characteristics, etc. Proper prediction of deformation can anticipate pavement deterioration and may offer valuable information for maintenance purposes. Numerous models have been developed for pavement deformation prediction and amongst them the VESYS (Visco-Elastic SYStem) is a well-known and widely used model for the simulation of pavement behavior and the prediction of pavement damage. The present paper investigates an effective method to predict deformation depth while reducing the bias between predicted and real data. For this purpose a road experiment was conducted. During the experiment a pavement section was tested during two phases: a) shortly after its construction and b) one year later. Deformations are predicted for one year of traffic utilizing the VESYS tool and by using firstly a theoretical approach to pavement design and secondly an approach based on in-situ data collected after construction using Non­Destructive Methods. For both cases, the predicted deformation values are compared with respective real values measured with a Laser Profiler system. The comparison results produce evidence in support of the statement that in-situ NDT data could be used effectively for predicting pavement deformation.