Feasibility study of using wheel-tracking tests and finite element modelling for pavement permanent deformation prediction

This report assesses the feasibility of using an advanced analysis of wheel-tracking test data, coupled with a pavement design approach to predict the permanent deformation performance of unbound granular pavements. The pavement rut resistance method currently used in the Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology Part 2 - Pavement Structural Design globalises the deformation in the unbound granular layers and in the subgrade, which does not take into account the performance of each base and subbase material. Base materials deformation significantly contributes to total pavement deformation. Improved rut performance characterisation has been identified as a key area of research for unbound base and subbase granular materials. The first step towards developing an approach was to evaluate the permanent deformation models available from the literature. The second was to build a framework allowing both model calibration and pavement performance prediction. This was completed using a 3D model of the wheel-tracker which was developed to enable the analysis of the wheel-tracking test data in the model calibration stage. The report also presents the model calibration using previous laboratory data. Finally, the model was used to predict pavement permanent deformation.