Abstract
Perpetual pavements are long-life asphalt structures designed to prevent structural distresses over the analysis period, requiring only periodic surface renewal. Although widely studied internationally, their quantitative structural, functional, and economic benefits under Turkish highway conditions remain unclear. This study presents an integrated framework combining mechanistic-empirical service life estimation with net present value (NPV)-based life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA), using MnROAD hot-mix asphalt sections as a reference. Section-level ESAL accumulation, IRI progression, HMA thickness, and pavement age are used to estimate structural and functional lives, producing a unified service life metric. These service lives inform an NPV-based LCCA comparing conventional and perpetual designs. Results show that thicker, strain-controlled perpetual pavements can offset higher initial costs through longer service lives and fewer structural interventions, reducing cost per ESAL. The study underscores the potential of perpetual pavement concepts for Türkiye and the need for regionally calibrated mechanistic–empirical guidance.