Verification and Validation of Pavement Models
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part B: Pavements
Volume 150, Issue 4
Abstract
Model development activities are increasing in pavement research and engineering applications. At the same time, there is ambiguity and a lack of consistency with regard to checking and quantifying credibility and suitability for the intended application. Specifically, usage of the terms Verification and Validation (V&V) is seen to vary across contributions. In this context, this paper was motivated by the desire to provide a best-practice reference that underlines the significance of the V&V terms, clarifies their definition, and promotes a more unified usage. Accordingly, the objective was to offer examples that introduce the V&V jargon, demonstrate basic V&V concepts and processes, and highlight certain fine points. A total of five distinct models were introduced and discussed: (1) load-related responses in asphalt pavements, (2) load-related responses in concrete pavements, (3) crack initiation and propagation in asphalt concrete, (4) linear viscoelasticity of asphalt concrete, and (5) water flow through asphalt concrete pores. A general conclusion from this work is that successful V&V efforts are closely linked to a clear definition of the intended usage, i.e., the specific reality of interest being targeted by the model. It is also concluded that documenting V&V efforts is integral to any computational model development. Doing so communicates to potential users the region of confidence for the model alongside the expected differences with the reality of interest.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge Shane Underwood from North Carolina State University, Hao Wang from Rutgers University, Carlos Armando Duarte from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Rongzong Wu from the University of California at Davis for their input. In addition, Sushobhan Sen contributed to the writing and performed ABAQUS runs of the section “Load-Related Responses in Concrete Pavements.” The authors also acknowledge Murilo Henrique Campana Bento and Caio Silva Ramos for conducting the Generalized Finite Element Method simulations and providing their data for the solution of viscoelastic fracture problems.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part B: Pavements
Volume 150 • Issue 4 • December 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 18, 2023
Accepted: May 3, 2024
Published online: Jul 24, 2024
Published in print: Dec 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 24, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Asphalt concrete
- Asphalt pavements
- Composite materials
- Computer models
- Concrete pavements
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Fiber reinforced composites
- Infrastructure
- Materials engineering
- Methodology (by type)
- Models (by type)
- Pavements
- Research methods (by type)
- Transportation engineering
- Validation
- Verification
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