TRB Webinar: Effect of Wide-base Tires on Pavement Damage – A National Study, Part II

TRB conducted a webinar on Monday, October 19, 2015, from 1:00PM-2:30PM ET about a study to assess the impact of new-generation wide-base tires (WBT) on pavements. This study was sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, led by the University of Illinois, and presented at the 2012 TRB Annual Meeting. It discussed a comprehensive approach, including experimental measurements, numerical modeling, and development of prediction tools. This webinar summarized the methodology, results, and implementation of the study through suggested modification for the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software. In addition, the life-cycle assessment of wide-base tires was presented.

Previous studies about the effect of WBT include:

• Pavement Response to Dual Tires and New Wide-Base Tires at Same Tire Pressure
• Quantification of Pavement Damage Caused by Dual and Wide-Base Tires
• Impact of Wide-Base Tires on Pavements

This webinar was organized by the TRB Standing Committees on Characteristics of Asphalt Paving Mixtures to Meet Structural Requirements, Strength and Deformation Characteristics of Pavement Sections, and Flexible Pavement Design.

Participants must register in advance of the webinar, and there is a fee for non-TRB Sponsor or non-TRB Sustaining Affiliate employees. A certificate for 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be provided to attendees who register and attend the webinar as an individual. 

Here are the slides from the presentations. Contact Reggie Gillum at RGillum@nas.edu for instructions on receiving a copy of the recorded webinar.

Webinar Presenters

• Eric Weaver, Federal Highway Administration
• Imad Al-Qadi, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Jamie Hernandez, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Moderator: Eric Weaver, Federal Highway Administration


Webinar Outline

1. Webinar introduction and project scope
2. Introduction of WBT
3. Impact of WBT on pavement damage
• Finite element modeling
4. Designing pavements structures considering WBT
• Prediction of pavement responses
• Development of adjustment factors for AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software
5. Environmental impact of WBT (life-cycle assessment)
6. Final remarks
7. Question and answer session

The first 60 minutes of the webinar will be for presentations and the final 30 minutes will be reserved for audience questions. The Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP) categorizes this webinar activity as relating to health, safety, and welfare including core technical.


Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Summarize the methodology, results, and implementation of the pooled-fund study “The Impact of Wide-Base Tire on Pavement Damage – A National Study”
• Understand the development of modifications to the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software outcome to account for wide-base tires
• Analyze the environmental impact of WBT and its life cycle assessment

Registration Information
There is no fee for employees of TRB Sponsors or TRB Sustaining Affiliates who register using their work email address. In addition to employees of TRB sponsor organizations, the following are eligible to receive complimentary webinar registration:

• TRB and National Academies employees;
• Chairs of TRB standing committees, sections, or groups;
• Members of the media;
• Employees of tribal governments; and
• Members of Congress or their staff.

Other sites must pay $89 per site. View our pricing page for details.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.


Professional Development Hour Information
A certificate for 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be provided to Professional Engineers (PEs) who register and attend the webinar as an individual. For groups, only the person that registers and attends the session will receive a PDH certificate.

Individuals registered as Florida PEs are no longer required to email TRB with your license number to report your attendance. Instead, please use your certificate that TRB provides through RCEP.net as verification of your attendance to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

Please check with your licensing board to ensure that TRB webinar PDHs are approved by your board.

This webinar was developed in March 2015. TRB has met the standards and requirements of the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to RCEP by TRB. Certificates of Completion will be issued to individuals who register for and attend the entire webinar session. Complaints about registered providers may be sent to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Website: www.RCEP.net.

Registration questions? Contact Reggie Gillum at RGillum@nas.edu.