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The main objective of cncPAVE is to make the user foresee the consequences of his design. Since this process is very fast, the program is particularly suited to be used dynamically, to perform a succession of trial-and-error experiments conducted by the user, and thus quickly zoom on a logical and rational design solution.

 

Typically, the program is used in steps as follows:

 

1.Create a Project

2.Create one or more Scenario per Project. Each Scenario should be created for a specific Pavement Type. Each Scenario should have a relevant description.

3.Select a Scenario and then...

4.On the Axle Loads Page select an axle load distribution

5.At the Control Page, enter input items to reflect your particular situation. Assistance with the input can be obtained via the Input Guide button.

6.On the same page select time t1 to the first rehabilitation. Select long periods such as 20 - 25 years if the pavement is to be relatively maintenance-free. Remember that such pavement will usually require relatively high capital cost. If the capital cost is a problem trade in maintenance cost - select a shorter time t1, such as 7 - 15 years.

7.Now run the calculation process by clicking the Run button. Watch the gauges. If the needles are somewhere in the green or yellow sectors your first attempt may already be a success.

8.Look at the life cost gauge and remember the average cost displayed. Run the program several times, with different times t1, and try to minimize the average life cost. Then run the program again with different pavement thicknesses (input item no. 4) and see whether you can further improve the economy. Change other input items and see whether or not you could drive the needle on the life-cost gauge even lower.

9.Click the tab of the Distributions Page. Look at the graphs. Determine the confidence intervals of the decision variables. If the intervals are too wide, revise the Min q and Max q values on the Control Page - try to make them closer to 1.0, but without being unrealistic. This will make the probability distributions on the Distributions Page 'slimmer', the 'greater-than' curves steeper, and the confidence intervals narrower.

10.Consult the Build-ups Page for the time trends of the output items. Notice the consequences of variability of the input items.

11.If you wish to study a relation between an input item and an output item click the What-IF Page tab and use the powerful facility provided for this particular purpose.