Análisis del dimensionamiento de estructuras de pavimento flexible empleando los métodos de diseño racional (2002) y AASHTO (1993). Caso de estudio TMAP 20°, 25° y 30° C

Abstract

In Colombia, one of the most used pavement structures in road projects is the flexible type, which is composed of layers made up of selected materials that aim to withstand the loads imposed by traffic and reduce the pressures they generate in the road (natural terrain on which the structure rests). In the country, this pavement structure is sized using the method of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials - AASHTO (1993), which has as design variables the subgrade, traffic, reliability, serviceability, drainage conditions, among others. Another method that serves this purpose is the "Rational" method, which is a mechanistic method product of a study carried out by the Institute of Urban Development – IDU and Los Andes University (2002). Flexible structures designed by rational method tend to have greater layer thicknesses or dimensions compared to those obtained using the AASHTO method (1993). Therefore, the Rational method is of little use. The present research, an analysis of each of the design variables of both methodologies was carried out. The above, to identify the possible causes that generate that the AASHTO method (1993) reports pavement structures with smaller dimensions compared to the Rational method (2002). Then a phase of simulations was executed, where a sensitivity analysis of each of the design variables of both methodologies was carried out, to know the differences in the thicknesses of the asphalt layer. In the Rational method, the stress and deformation states of the pavement layers were calculated using the academic and free SOFTWARE DEPAV. The study was applied for structures subjected to areas where the average annual temperatures (WCMP) are 20°, 25° and 30°C. In addition to the results obtained from the simulations, a cost analysis was performed. A similar study, but with lower temperatures is being executed by other students in another degree project.