The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) has completed the first phase of an approximately $1 million research initiative to develop a new mechanistic-empirical (ME) design methodology for interlocking concrete pavements. Unlike traditional design approaches based largely on historical performance, the ME method combines laboratory testing, engineering analysis, computer modeling, and actual material properties to predict pavement performance under specific traffic, environmental, and site conditions. The research also found that the paver and bedding layers work together as a cohesive structural system, providing new insight into how interlocking concrete pavements carry loads.
The project is now moving into full-scale validation using a heavy-vehicle simulator, where six pavement structures incorporating different materials—including recycled concrete and various aggregate configurations—will be subjected to millions of simulated truckloads. The research is ultimately intended to support updates to ASCE 58-16, CMHA design guidance, pavement design tables, and future digital design tools, with final recommendations expected in 2028.
Learn more about this project and it’s recent updates here: https://www.cmha.org/news-and-insights/cmha-completes-first-phase-of-landmark-pavement-research/