This study evaluated the differences between AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design (PMED) Version 2.6 and Version 3.0 using
representative Indiana pavement structures and traffic conditions. PMED Version 3.0 introduces several major updates, including
adoption of the MERRA-2 climate database, revised rigid pavement slab-base interaction models, updated calibration coefficients,
and support for Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR)-based asphalt binder grading. Because the Indiana Department of
Transportation (INDOT) currently uses PMED Version 2.6 with locally calibrated distress models, evaluation of Version 3.0 was
necessary prior to implementation.

A total of 114 pavement design files representing full-depth asphalt pavements, asphalt overlay pavements, and Portland cement
concrete (PCC) pavements, were analyzed using both PMED Version 2.6 and Version 3.0. Level 1 and Level 3 analyses were
conducted, and predicted pavement distresses, including International Roughness Index (IRI), ruting, fatigue cracking, thermal
cracking, faulting, and transverse cracking, were compared.

The results indicated that PMED Version 3.0 generally produces pavement performance predictions consistent with those from
Version 2.6 for most distress indicators. The largest differences were observed in thermal cracking predictions, particularly for
asphalt overlay pavements, where Version 3.0 generally predicted higher cracking levels than Version 2.6. For PCC pavements,
Version 3.0 predicted lower IRI values and moderate differences in faulting and transverse cracking. MSCR-based asphalt binder
grading was successfully implemented in Level 3 analyses; however, software errors occurred during Level 1 analyses.

Overall, the study demonstrated that PMED Version 3.0 Level 3 analyses can be implemented for pavement design applications in
Indiana because the overall pavement performance prediction trends remain generally consistent with those from Version 2.6.
However, implementation of Level 1 analyses is recommended after appropriate thermal cracking input properties are developed
and validated through the ongoing SPR-4912 study

Infrastructure Assets: Highway Assets, Pavement
Resource Types: Research Report
Capabilities: Tools & Technology
Management Processes: Performance Based Planning & Programming