An Advisory Computerized Rule-Based System for Defects of Joints in Rigid Pavement

Abstract

Rigid pavement is preferable over other types of pavements where traffic loads are high due to its high rigidity. However, joints are unavoidable when rigid pavement is adopted, as they control thermal movements that can cause severe damage to concrete. Although they have advantages, joints are weak points, as they may be affected by traffic or other external conditions, such as environmental factors. If joint defects occur, they may reduce the driving comfort or lead to structural damage on pavements. Therefore, controlling problems in joints is highly required. However, this process requires significant expertise, which is not always available when and where required. Therefore, providing a practical alternative is greatly recommended. Hence, this study aims to provide the required alternative by constructing a computerized rule-based system capable of diagnosing defects and advising an appropriate solution. To attain the study aim, several steps were adopted. First, the domain knowledge was collected from various references through extensive extraction and from experts through several interviews and questionnaires. The collected knowledge was analyzed, classified, and represented in a rule-based form.  Afterward, the represented knowledge was converted into a computer program using Visual Basic. The built system was evaluated by highway engineers with varying levels of expertise and was found to be valid to about 90%. The constructed system is available to the pavement engineer to treat defects with minimal effort and time. It can also be adopted as an archive for domain knowledge. In addition, it can be used as a foundation for future systems in similar areas.