2011_AAPA_Study_Tour.. - Aapaq.org

6. Improving Pavement Performance AAPA 2011 Study Tour Group ReportA major objective of the updated design method was to bring theory much closer to observedperformance. The decline of the level of expertise in pavement engineering in Southern Africaresulted in the introduction of younger and less experienced engineers into the field of pavementdesign. They were constrained by their lack of practical knowledge and experience to interpretcomplex pavement behaviour.The updated system is attempting to capture the knowledge of experienced pavement designersand to incorporate it into the new design system. The goal of the system has to deliver resultsthat are accurate (match reality) and are balanced with respect to the material selection, whetherthe pavement material be unbound granular, or bound asphalt materials / concrete or stabilisedmaterials.In May 2005 a task group was established to develop a framework of the updated design systemand by November 2005 the Research and Development framework was available. The requiredresearch and development work covered a wide and diverse range of disciplines including:• traffic loading predictions• material resilient response• pavement resilient response• damage models• probabilistic and recursive schemesV4-2 Page 66Louw Kannemeyer - Tour