Local Calibration of Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide Rutting Model

The AASHTO interim Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) was recently introduced in the United States. Many state agencies have conducted validation and local calibration of the MEPDG performance prediction models. In this study, time history rutting performance data for pavement sections at the Minnesota Department of Transportation full-scale pavement research facility [Minnesota Road Research Project (MnROAD)] have been used for an evaluation and local calibration of the MEPDG rutting model. A detailed comparison of the predicted total rutting, asphalt layer rutting, and measured rutting is presented. The reason that a conventional MEPDG model calibration was not feasible is discussed. Also, a modification of the rutting model is recommended. It was found that the locally calibrated model greatly improved the MEPDG rutting prediction for various pavement designs in MnROAD conditions.