Project number: NCST-15-23

Funding source: Caltrans

Contract number: 65A0527

Funding amount: $89,135

Performance Period: 4/1/2016 to 9/15/2017

Link to NCST project webpage: https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/research-product/sustainable-mitigation-stormwater-runoff-through-fully-permeable-pavement

Project Description

Fully permeable pavements are defined for the purposes of this study as those in which all layers are intended to be permeable and the pavement structure serves as a reservoir to store water during storm periods in order to minimize the adverse effects of stormwater runoff. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is interested in the development of fully permeable pavement designs for use in areas that carry heavy truck traffic as a potential stormwater management best management practice (BMP) to provide low-impact infrastructure and efficient system operation.

Caltrans has been working with University of California Pavement Research Center (UCPRC) to develop a design for fully permeable pavement. A mechanistic-empirical design method has been developed. The mechanistic-empirical design development process consists of determining relevant material properties in the laboratory, and then using them in inexpensive and risk-free computer models to evaluate pavement performance, followed by empirical validation and calibration of failure mechanisms and performance of the most promising designs through accelerated pavement testing and field test sections.

This study will build a test section based on the new design method developed by UCPRC at CSULB. The test section will used for calibration and performance of the new design method. Support letters from UCPRC and Design & Construction Services at CSULB are enclosed in the proposal.