Comprehensive performance ranking and impact analysis using the best approximation matter-element model and combined weights

The evaluation of pavement conditions determines the need for pavement maintenance. To ensure that maintenance funds are allocated fairly, it is necessary to prioritize the overall performance of pavement sections based on multidimensional state data and determine maintenance priority. In this study, the pavement functional performance, structural performance, and material performance were among seven indexes chosen to evaluate to overcome the limitation of only considering the functional index in evaluating the performance of asphalt pavement. The extended matter-element model was combined with the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) based on determining the weight of the index combination and applied to the Hubei section of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway to calculate the matter-element of the best closeness of the pavement performance and determine the priority of maintenance. The case study demonstrates that the proposed method can obtain an accurate ranking of the overall performance of the alternative road sections, and its superiority was demonstrated through comparative analysis. Furthermore, the degree of influence of each performance index on overall performance was determined and discussed. Among them, dynamic modulus (|E*|), which represents the mechanical strength of asphalt mixture material, contributed the most influence, while the rut depth index (RDI), which represents the permanent deformation level of road surface, contributed the least. This recommended evaluation method can be used to develop a pavement repair plan.