Quantifying the Impact of Climatic Factors on JPCP Design and Performance in Pakistan

Pakistan has witnessed an increase in rigid pavements lately, owing to their durability and effectiveness in addressing the escalation of traffic volume. Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP) is the most common rigid pavement system in Pakistan. Pakistan’s temperate climate varies widely depending on the country’s topography. This study analyzes the impact of different climatic factors in various regions of Pakistan on the design and performance indicators of JPCPs. AASHTOWare Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design (PMED) software version 3.21, the avant-garde design tool, is employed for this study. It assesses pavement performance through the International Roughness Index (IRI), joint faulting, and transverse cracking. The climatic stations for this study are chosen by referring to the Köppen-Geiger climatic classification of Pakistan. The climatic factors considered are mean annual air temperature, mean annual precipitation, freezing index, and the average annual number of freeze/thaw cycles. The results of the simulations indicate a significant impact of change in climatic factors on all the performance indicators, with transverse cracking being the pronounced one in the range of 10.44%–40.71%. The concrete slab thickness was subsequently optimized for different climatic stations to bring the cracking values within the threshold. The findings highlighted the significance of incorporating climate in the design process and warrant the adoption of PMED in Pakistan to ensure long-lasting and durable pavements.