The MEPDG was nationally calibrated using Long-term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program pavement sections as a representative database of pavement test sites across North America. It then utilizes the cumulative damage in transfer functions to 'empirically' predict pavement distresses for each trial pavement structure. In flexible pavement design, the software 'mechanistically' calculates pavement responses (stresses and strains) based on the inputs and trial design information and uses those responses to compute incremental damage over time. Many state highway agencies have considered adopting the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) and the accompanying AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software to supplement or replace the empirical American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Pavement Design Guides and the widely used DARWin pavement design software.
Pavement ME Design – A Summary of Local Calibration Efforts for Flexible Pavements
