Comparison of costs between flexible and rigid pavements based on pavement management concepts

Author(s)

Fernanda Cristina Biroli

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2003-07-14

Examining board members

José Leomar Fernandes Júnior; Vladimir Coelho; Eliane Viviani

• Advisor: José Leomar Fernandes Júnior

Abstract

This research work aims to determine and compare the total cost for both, rigid and flexible pavements. Thus, it analyzes all components of costs related to flexible and rigid pavements during their service lives, i.e., construction cost, maintenance and rehabilitation cost and users cost. For the determination of the construction cost it is considered the most used pavement design methods, as well construction procedures used in Brazil. The maintenance and rehabilitation cost is calculated based on the identification of the main distress types for both flexible and rigid pavements that occur in Brazil. The users cost, function of the pavement surface condition, is calculated from performance models used by Brazilian highway agencies. For a broader comparison of rigid and flexible pavements it is performed a factorial analysis. The main factors to be considered are: subgrade type, pavement layer material and thickness, traffic load and volume, maintenance and rehabilitation strategy. The simulations for the determination of total cost will be done for each cell of the factorial matrix, i.e., for each combination of factors. (AU)