Evaluation of Risk in End-Result Specifications for Asphalt Pavement Construction

Buttlar, William; Manik, Anshu

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/45992 Copy

Description

Title

Evaluation of Risk in End-Result Specifications for Asphalt Pavement Construction

Author(s)

• Buttlar, William
• Manik, Anshu

Issue Date

2007-10

Keyword(s)

End-Result, Specifications, Construction, Asphalt, Pavement, Risk, Quality, QC, QA, Simulation

Abstract

End-Result Specifications (ERS) for asphalt pavement construction offer potential benefits over method-related specifications. They can be used in conjunction with or replacement of traditional QC/QA specifications as a means to enhance contractor innovation, reduce agency testing burden, and enhance overall pavement quality. Unlike other manufacturing sectors, the measure of pavement quality is not as simple as detecting and quantifying defective items. The quality of pavements is assessed with imperfect measuring tools operated by humans, who may inadvertently or intentionally introduce measurement variability or bias. As a result, the ability to measure quality and assign appropriate payment bonuses and penalties is an imperfect system. This report details the development of a simulation tool which can be used to analyze specification risk and to develop ERS systems with user-managed risk levels. The program, called Simulated Risk Analysis (SRA), computes the risk of overpayment (agency risk) or underpayment (contractor risk) as a function of many factors, including: number of tests, production and measurement variability, bias, pay formula and pay caps, and specification limits. It also considers the quality assurance and third-party testing scheme used. In general, SRA can be used to develop a better understanding of how changes in individual ERS specification parameters can affect the payment risk for the contractor and agency. This knowledge can be used to explore the possibility of developing desirable changes in an existing ERS, such as reducing sample size, reducing risk, optimizing tolerance limits, changing pay factor equations, and the pros and cons of pay factor equations with payment caps.

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-ICT-07-013 UILU-ENG-2007-2029

ISSN

0197-9191

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/45992

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Illinois Department of Transportation

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161

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