These design methods have been historically found to be generally reliable and reasonable for most application in design. However, premature distress in many flexible pavements suggests that these empirical methods of de-sign do not guarantee a stable mix. Recently, many studies have been carried out in order to develop a rational mix design procedure that accounts for both the mix volumetric properties as well as fundamental engineering properties. Such a test is currently absent in the existing Superpave approach. The new procedure introduces the flow time as a fundamental engineering design criterion in the mix design.
Plastic flow occurs when the deformation occurs at no volume change.
The creep test required to evaluate the mix stability is simple, quick, economical, and practical from the industry point of view. The LRFD is built on previous practices in the design of ship structures. Also, LRFD specifications and rules by other related industries were considered in the development of the design methodology in this dissertation. This dissertation presents the detailed development work for the reliability-based structural design of surface ships. Abstract A new rational mechanistic model for analysis and design of flexible pavement systems has been developed.