Failure analysis of a DBST road using mechanistic empirical method

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyze a failure of a DBST road section using a Mechanistic - Empirical method. For this analysis, failure of A15- Trincomalee-Batticaloe road was selected.This particular road section was rehabilitated recently by extending the width of the initial road section from both the sides and soon, a large amount pot holes appeared in the newly constructed areas.Empirical methods alone failed to identify the reason behind this failure and therefore a Mechanistic - Empirical approach was used along with the KENLAYER software to analyze the section. Mechanistic approach to pavement design seeks to explain phenomena only by reference to physical causes. Thus it uses stresses, strains and deflections within a pavement structure to analyze the loads and material properties of the pavement. This study would help future engineers to identify the reason behind the failure of road sections. This will promote mechanistic softwares like KENLAYER and increase the usage of it. These softwares will make life easy for road designers and consultants and this may turn a new chapter in road designing of Sri Lanka.