The UCPRC advances asphalt pavement technologies by updating mechanistic–empirical design methods in CalME, developing performance-related tests for balanced mix design, and expanding the materials library to reflect statewide conditions. By aligning design tools with data from pilot projects, smoothness evaluations, and performance monitoring, this work helps ensure that flexible pavement designs reflect actual field behavior. UCPRC also evaluates new approaches and materials, including cold recycling, rubberized asphalt, and innovative asphalt bases and interlayers, and develops guidelines to support their use in practice. This approach improves durability, promotes sustainability, and strengthens the link between research, design, and long-term performance of California’s asphalt pavements.
Current projects
Continued Support for Implementation of Performance Related Tests and Specifications for Balanced Mix Design, Increased Recycling of Asphalt Mixes, and Integration of Mix Design and Structural Design (SPE: 4.92)
Objective: Identify and develop a comprehensive set of performance related tests (PRT) that will be used in performance related specification frameworks.
Project Manager: John Harvey
Sponsor: Caltrans
Task Order: TO-005
Concrete and Asphalt Pavement Smoothness and Asphalt Quality Incentive/Disincentive Analysis (SPE 3.60)
Objective: Develop a web-based user-friendly tool for calculating pay factors for pavement smoothness for Caltrans concrete and asphalt pavements and for asphalt concrete (AC) materials.
Project Manager: John Harvey
Sponsor: Caltrans
Task Order: TO-006
(Also Concrete pavements)
Regional and New Materials in Standard Materials Library and Implementation of Design Guidance (SPE: 3.61)
Objective: Continue expanding the CalME Standard Materials Library to improve design for flexible pavements in California.
Project Manager: Rongzong Wu
Sponsor: Caltrans
Task Order: TO-009
(Also Concrete pavements and Recycling end of life pavements)
Implementation of New Models in CalME (SPE: 3.62)
Objective: Continue improving, refining, and updating CalME for mechanistic-empirical design of flexible pavements.
Project Manager: Rongzong Wu
Sponsor: Caltrans
Task Order: TO-010
Piloting of Cold Recycling and New Asphalt Base Designs and Interlayers for Concrete Pavements (SPE: 4.99)
Objective: Develop recommendations for designing new hot mix asphalt (HMA) bases for jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) and continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), and interlayers (bond-breakers) to be used between the JPCP slabs and the lean concrete bases (LCB).
Project Manager: Angel Mateos
Sponsor: Caltrans
Task Order: TO-020
(Also Concrete pavements and Recycling end of life pavements)
Evaluation of Fine Dry Rubberized Asphalt Mixes and Inclusion in Performance-Related Specifications (SPE: 4.100)
Objective: Develop recommendations for using waste tire rubber in dense-graded hot mix asphalt (HMA), including suggested specification language for implementation in balanced mix design, where same or better life cycle cost and same or better environmental impact can be achieved.
Project Manager: Angel Mateos
Sponsor: Caltrans
Task Order: TO-021
Regional and New Materials in Standard Materials Library and Implementation of Design Guidance (SPE: 3.61)
Objective: Continue expanding the CalME Standard Materials Library to improve design for flexible pavements in California.
Project Manager: Rongzong Wu
Sponsor: Caltrans
Task Order: TO-009
(Also Asphalt pavements and Concrete pavements)
