A PAVEMENT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

A PAVEMENT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR FOREST SERVICE ROADS - A CONCEPTUAL STUDY

by Thomas G. McGarragh

W. R. Hudson

Report No. FS-l Final Report Phase T

U. S. Forest Service Agreement No. 13-686

conducted for

Forest Service U. S. Department of Agriculture

by the DIVI SION OF RESEARCH IN TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL FOR ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION STUDIES

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN July 1974

The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Forest Se~vice. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

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PREFACE

This is the final report for Phase I of a projected three-phase study being conducted for the Forest Service by the Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, The University of Texas at Austin. The purpose of the total project, FS-l, is to develop and implement a pavement design and management system for low-volume roads, in particular, Forest Service Roads. This report of Phase J is meant to summarize the problem analysis efforts of the project research team in addition to presenting a conceptual pavement management system and a discussion of its potential benefits when applied to a low-volume road network.

In an effort to obtain feedback for use in this final report, a draft version of the report was sent to the Forest Service for their review and editorial comments. The ideas and comments received as a result of this review are sincerely appreciated and have been incorporated, as far as relevant, into this final report. The support and advice of Mr. Adrian Pelzner and others in the Forest Service is appreciated.

August 1974

Thomas G. McCarragh W. Ronald Hudson

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ABSTRACT

The design of pavements for low-cost, low-volume roads is a complex procedure involving numerous variables. Because of the development of new information in the pavement field during the past decade, the complexity of the interaction of these design variables has become better understood and the need for a systematic approach to the problem of pavement design and management has become evident. This report is an attempt to apply this systematic approach to the design and management of low-volume Forest Service roads.

The report summarizes the problem analysis efforts of the project staff, beginning with the identification of the problem through its recognition and definition. Using the FPS type of working Pavement Design System developed in Texas as a conceptual base, an extensive examination of the major subsystems that make up the majority of existing pavement management systems for "higher type" roads was conducted. In attempting to define these basic components for the proposed low-volume road system, it was found that interaction between the project research staff and Forest Service personnel was of great importance. This interaction was achieved in the form of an interagency "brainstorming session" and later an "importance rating" of the ideas presented at this meeting. The results of this interaction along with the research efforts of the project staff allowed for an initial definition of the major components in the proposed system. Where complete definition of these subsystems was not possible, relevant questions and ideas were formulated for consideration in their further development. Finally, an

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