Development of a Backcalculation Method for Estimating Pavement Layer Modulus Using the Genetic Algorithm Part I : Selection of the GA Parameters

It is important to predict the structural adequacies of asphalt pavements in service for the efficient pavement management using the falling weight deflectometer (FWD). The purpose of this study is to present the procedure for backcalculating the layer moduli using the FWD deflections and GAPAVE program. The GAPAVE, backcalculation program for layer moduli, developed in this study is based on finite element structural analysis and genetic algorithm. From the sensitivity analysis results, the genetic algorithm parameters are affected by structural and stiffness conditions of pavements. For more accurate backcalculation, the optimized genetic algorithm parameters need to be selected at each pavement condition. This study proposes the procedure for the selection of GA parameters and the reasonable ranges of GA parameters.