Michigan is rapidly moving toward the adoption and use of mechanistic-empirical design for flexible pavements. To facilitate the transition from empirical to mechanistic design methods, the Michigan Department of Transportation contracted the enhancement of the MICHPAVE (finite element analysis) and MICHBACK (static backcalculation) software previously developed by Michigan State University. The enhanced software is named the Michigan Flexible Pavement Design System (MFPDS). This software provides a holistic framework for the analysis and design of flexible pavements. MFPDS includes modules for AASHTO design, linear and nonlinear mechanistic analysis, backcalculation, and mechanistic design (including overlay design). The software incorporates enhanced elastic layer and finite element models within an easy-to-use Windows user-interface, and can be used on a routine basis. New response models to predict fatigue life and rut depth also were developed as part of this effort and are included in MFPDS. New pavements and overlays may be designed to limit predicted distresses to user-specified threshold values.

• Harichandran, R. S., Buch, N., and Baladi, G. Y. (2001). "Flexible pavement design in Michigan: transition from empirical to mechanistic methods." Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1778, 100-106.
• Harichandran, R. S., Ko, R.-S., Buch, N., and Baladi, G. Y. (1999). "Michigan flexible pavement design system user’s manual." Michigan Department of Transportation, Lansing, Michigan.
• Buch, N., Harichandran, R. S., Baladi, G. Y., Kim, H. B., and Park, D. Y. (1999). "Calibration of MICHPAVE’s rut and fatigue distress models and development of an overlay design procedure in MICHBACK." Final Report, Michigan Department of Transportation, Lansing, Michigan.
• Harichandran, R. S., Mahmood, T., Raab, A., and Baladi, G. Y. (1993). "A modified Newton algorithm for backcalculation of pavement layer properties." Transportation Research Record, 1384, 15-22.
• Harichandran, R. S., Yeh, M-S., and Baladi, G. Y. (1990). "MICH-PAVE: a nonlinear finite element program for the analysis of flexible pavements." Transportation Research Record, 1286, 123-131.