Comparative evaluation of mechanistic–empirical performance models as a tool for establishing pavement performance specifications

In this study, the fatigue performance of 27 mixtures representing various as-built pavement conditions is evaluated using two advanced mechanistic–empirical (M–E) models, layered viscoelastic continuum damage (LVECD) and AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design (Pavement ME)) and one mixture-based index parameter obtained from fatigue testing. The performance trends among the two M–E models are compared by performing simulation on thick and thin pavement sections. Moreover, the performance ranking based on a mixture index parameter is compared to the M–E models. The results from the M–E models clearly show the need for increased compactive effort to achieve the best performance. For the majority of the mixtures, the rankings of the different models are similar. In almost all instances, the rankings based on the M–E models and index parameters were able to distinguish the best and worst performing pavements similarly. This indicates that the approaches can be used interchangeably for differentiating mixture performance between different asphalt and air void levels.