Suggested Citation:
Zhang, Hongjun Michael, Gregory Keoleian, Michael Lepech, Alissa Kendall (2010) Life-Cycle Optimization of Pavement Overlay Systems. Journal of Infrastructure Systems 16 (4), 310 - 322

Preservation (maintenance and rehabilitation) strategy is the critical factor controlling pavement performance. A life-cycle optimization (LCO) model was developed to determine an optimal preservation strategy for a pavement overlay system and to minimize the total life-cycle energy consumption, greenhouse gas GHG[1] emissions, and costs within an analysis period. Using dynamic programming optimization techniques, the LCO model integrates dynamic life-cycle assessment and life-cycle cost analysis models with an autoregressive pavement overlay deterioration model. To improve sustainability in pavement design, a promising alternative material for pavement overlays, engineered cementitious composites (ECCs), was studied. The LCO model was applied to an ECC overlay system, a concrete overlay system, and a hot mixed asphalt (HMA) overlay system. The LCO results show that the optimal preservation strategies will reduce the total life-cycle energy consumption by 5–30%, GHG emissions by 4–40%, and costs by 0.4–12% for the concrete, ECC, and HMA overlay systems compared to the current Michigan Department of Transportation preservation strategies, respectively. The impact of trafï¬c growth on the optimal preservation strategies was also explored.

Keywords: optimization, dynamic programming, pavement overlays, life-cycle assessment, greenhouse gas emission