Researchers with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) have combined their expertise to co-author Modeling and Design of Flexible Pavements and Materials, a first-of-its-kind book with the potential to transform the way pavements are installed. The approach emphasizes the use of computational modeling to create longer-lasting, less-costly pavements. The authors will share their methodologies and findings in a continuing education short course titled Computational Analysis and Design of Flexible Pavement April 18-19, 2018.

“We’ve combined the science associated with the chemical makeup and physical properties of all the components of asphalt with computational modeling to create a tool that can be used to build finite element algorithms,” TTI Senior Research Engineer Dr. David Allen, director of TTI’s Center for Railway Research, explains. “These algorithms can then be used to predict the performance of the roadway over time.”

When the CIR opens in 2018, Allen will operate the Center for  Railway Research as one of the 13 CIR labs.

Allen co-authored the book with Dr. Amit Bhasin and Dr. Dallas Little. Bhasin is an associate professor at The University of Texas’ Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering. Little is a Regent’s Professor and E.B. Snead Endowed Chair Professor in the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M, as well as a TTI senior research fellow.

“In the first part of the book, Bhasin and I set the stage by examining the chemistry and physical properties of the various materials that make up asphalt, including additives, so that we can model them in Dr. Allen’s sophisticated computational models,” Little says. “This book is unique because materials science is combined with computational analysis, advancing the way we design our roadways of the future.” He notes that the textbook could be used in a new graduate course currently in development.

Meanwhile, registration is under way for the short course offered by the Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR)—a joint center between TEES and TTI— and will be held at the Texas A&M Mays Business School at CityCentre in Houston, Texas. Early bird registration rates are available until Feb. 28, 2018.  View the course details page to register for the short course and get more information.

“This short course is a perfect example of the collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach CIR will employ toward developing transformative infrastructure solutions,” said John Barton, Assistant Vice Chancellor Texas A&M University System, RELLIS Director and CIR Executive Director.