Relating Ride Quality and Structural Adequacy for Pavement Rehabilitation and Management Decisions: [techbrief]

2012PDFTech Reporthttps://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/ltpp/12046/index.cfmFHWA-HRT-12-046Ride qualityRehabilitation (Maintenance)Pavement management systemsUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Research, Development, and TechnologyUnited States. Federal Highway Administration, Office of Research, Development, and TechnologyTurner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterWiser, LarryFederal Highway AdministrationThis document is a technical summary of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)report, "Relating Ride Quality and Structural Adequacy for Pavement Rehabilitation/Design Decisions" (FHWA-HRT-12-035). This TechBrief discusses the relationship between pavement ride quality and structural adequacy. It presents highlights from a literature search and findings from the analysis and comparison of ride quality and structural adequacy data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program. Although a viable relationship between the two parameters could not be established, the lack of correlation is considered of value to pavement management system (PMS) practitioners, as it indicates that good ride quality does not mean good structural support or vice-versa. This becomes an important consideration for those who want to base performance measures on ride quality indicators.79