Framework for Design of Sustainable Flexible Pavement
The conventional methodologies for the design of flexible pavements are not adequate in providing solutions that meet the diverse sustainability challenges. Therefore, developing new methodologies and frameworks for the design of flexible pavement has become a priority for most highway agencies. On...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Infrastructures |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/7/1/6 |
| _version_ | 1797493162574348288 |
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| author | Enyew Asres Tewodros Ghebrab Stephen Ekwaro-Osire |
| author_facet | Enyew Asres Tewodros Ghebrab Stephen Ekwaro-Osire |
| author_sort | Enyew Asres |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The conventional methodologies for the design of flexible pavements are not adequate in providing solutions that meet the diverse sustainability challenges. Therefore, developing new methodologies and frameworks for the design of flexible pavement has become a priority for most highway agencies. On the other hand, there is no sound sustainable flexible pavement framework at the design phase that considers the key engineering performance, environmental impact, and economic benefits of sustainability metrics. Hence, premature failure of flexible pavements has become a common problem leading to a growing demand for sustainable pavement. Pavement engineers need to have access to tools that permit them to design flexible pavements capable of providing sustainable solutions under various complex scenarios and uncertainties. Hence, the objective of this study was to develop a resilience analysis framework, probabilistic life cycle assessment (PLCA) framework, and probabilistic life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) framework as the pillars of sustainability. These frameworks were used to develop a single sustainable flexible pavement design framework. The developed framework enables highway agencies to effectively quantify the lifetime sustainability performance of flexible pavements during the design phase in terms of resilience, environmental sustainability, and economic sustainability; and it allows to select the optimum design by comparing alternative design options. The framework will enhance the durability of flexible pavement projects by minimizing the cost, operational disturbance, environmental impact, and supporting the design. Many countries, especially those that fully dependent on the road network as the primary transportation route, may benefit from the sustainability-based road network design, which could ensure dependable market accessibility. The resilience of such a road network may reduce the cost of business activities by minimizing the interruption in surface transportation due to the functional and structural failures resulting from extreme events. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:16:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ad4237532d64ae393c3073f63aef817 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2412-3811 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:16:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infrastructures |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ad4237532d64ae393c3073f63aef8172023-11-23T14:08:55ZengMDPI AGInfrastructures2412-38112021-12-0171610.3390/infrastructures7010006Framework for Design of Sustainable Flexible PavementEnyew Asres0Tewodros Ghebrab1Stephen Ekwaro-Osire2Department of Civil Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma 378, EthiopiaDepartment of Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USAThe conventional methodologies for the design of flexible pavements are not adequate in providing solutions that meet the diverse sustainability challenges. Therefore, developing new methodologies and frameworks for the design of flexible pavement has become a priority for most highway agencies. On the other hand, there is no sound sustainable flexible pavement framework at the design phase that considers the key engineering performance, environmental impact, and economic benefits of sustainability metrics. Hence, premature failure of flexible pavements has become a common problem leading to a growing demand for sustainable pavement. Pavement engineers need to have access to tools that permit them to design flexible pavements capable of providing sustainable solutions under various complex scenarios and uncertainties. Hence, the objective of this study was to develop a resilience analysis framework, probabilistic life cycle assessment (PLCA) framework, and probabilistic life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) framework as the pillars of sustainability. These frameworks were used to develop a single sustainable flexible pavement design framework. The developed framework enables highway agencies to effectively quantify the lifetime sustainability performance of flexible pavements during the design phase in terms of resilience, environmental sustainability, and economic sustainability; and it allows to select the optimum design by comparing alternative design options. The framework will enhance the durability of flexible pavement projects by minimizing the cost, operational disturbance, environmental impact, and supporting the design. Many countries, especially those that fully dependent on the road network as the primary transportation route, may benefit from the sustainability-based road network design, which could ensure dependable market accessibility. The resilience of such a road network may reduce the cost of business activities by minimizing the interruption in surface transportation due to the functional and structural failures resulting from extreme events.https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/7/1/6sustainabilityresiliencelife-cycle assessmentlife-cycle cost analysisflexible pavementuncertainties |
| spellingShingle | Enyew Asres Tewodros Ghebrab Stephen Ekwaro-Osire Framework for Design of Sustainable Flexible Pavement Infrastructures sustainability resilience life-cycle assessment life-cycle cost analysis flexible pavement uncertainties |
| title | Framework for Design of Sustainable Flexible Pavement |
| title_full | Framework for Design of Sustainable Flexible Pavement |
| title_fullStr | Framework for Design of Sustainable Flexible Pavement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Framework for Design of Sustainable Flexible Pavement |
| title_short | Framework for Design of Sustainable Flexible Pavement |
| title_sort | framework for design of sustainable flexible pavement |
| topic | sustainability resilience life-cycle assessment life-cycle cost analysis flexible pavement uncertainties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/7/1/6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT enyewasres frameworkfordesignofsustainableflexiblepavement AT tewodrosghebrab frameworkfordesignofsustainableflexiblepavement AT stephenekwaroosire frameworkfordesignofsustainableflexiblepavement |