Surface wear by studded tires is a primary cause for rutting in portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements, and may, for the pavement sections with high traffic intensities, become a primary factor controlling the length of pavements maintenance intervals. In the present study, PCC pavement field performance with respect to surface wear is examined based on the transverse surface profile measurements performed yearly during first five years of pavements service life. Continuous transverse surface profile measurements have been performed yearly on a 20 km long rigid pavement section in Moscow region, Russia. Based on the measurements, quantitative parameters describing rut depth evolution are obtained and evaluated; the obtained results are discussed in context of previous research findings reported in the literature. The effect of pavement surface wear on the further rutting accumulation rate is examined. The particular attention is also given to the spatial variability of the measured pavement surface wear characteristics, i.e. rut depth and accumulation rate. The implications of the obtained results on the length of rigid pavement maintenance intervals are discussed.

No abstract

In statistical physics, the irreversible processes are characterized by the same value as entropy. Entropy represents a measure of system disorder consisting of many components. Originally ordered systems in irreversible processes lose their order, so that the system entropy increases. Therefore, one can judge by the size of entropy about the degree of order in the system. This article gives a brief description of the new physical and mathematical solution taken as a basis of the model of entropy accumulation and defects development processes within the motor road pavements for the prognosis and evaluation of their operational integrity and durability.

Road pavements in Russia are now working in difficult conditions of ever-growing vehicular traffic intensity. Current methodology for designing flexible road pavements has a number of serious shortcomings, where the best design experience and actual operating conditions of highways are not fully taken into account. In some cases, this leads to ineffective pavement structures design with a short service life. On many roads, rutting and premature wear of road surfaces appear already in the first years of their operation. Drainage systems are silted up in the first years of working. At the same time, geosynthetic materials are sometimes used unreasonably. The service life of roadway surfaces does not comply with the current regulations. In Russia, effective road-building materials are not yet fully used, local road-building materials and industrial waste reinforced with binders are little used. With exception of certain regions of the country, actual experience of operating various road structures with identification of the most optimal solutions is still poorly subject to consideration. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop designs of typical road pavements for various regions of Russia, which will ensure their efficient operation. To develop typical pavement designs, it is necessary to analyze existing ones in real conditions of their operation.