Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design of I-285 Interstate Highway by Multi-Scale Field and Laboratory Evaluation Techniques

Abstract

The rapid deterioration of aging concrete pavements on high-volume highway systems presents a critical challenge for transportation agencies tasked with maintaining safety, mobility, and structural integrity under increasing traffic loads. Interstate 285 highway, one of the busiest freight and commuter corridors in Georgia, the USA, exemplifies the compounded pressures of advanced pavement age, insufficient historical rehabilitation, and extreme loading demands. Conventional evaluation methods, often limited to localized deflection testing or surface distress surveys, fail to capture the spatial and structural complexities required for sustainable rehabilitation design. This study introduces an integrated evaluation methodology that combines continuous deflection sensing, subsurface profiling, and mechanistic interpretation to develop a high-resolution structural performance map across a 17.4-mile corridor. A key innovation lies in the use of denoised deflection velocity signals to estimate joint load transfer efficiency at fine intervals, enabling targeted identification of deteriorated joints without disruptive testing. The analysis revealed substantial variability in pavement stiffness, concrete layer thickness, and subgrade support, with over 30 percent of joints in several segments exhibiting poor or very poor load transfer efficiency. These insights supported the development of segment-specific rehabilitation strategies optimized for structural performance, constructability, and lifecycle cost. The findings demonstrate the value of high-resolution, multi-scale evaluation for data-driven pavement renewal on heavily trafficked corridors.