NTL Record

Title Using Falling Weight Deflectometer Data With Mechanistic-Empirical Design and Analysis, Volume III : Guidelines for Deflection Testing, Analysis, and Interpretation
Record ID 65563
Personal Name
Creator
Pierce, Linda M.; Bruinsma, J. E.; Smith, Kurt D.; Wade, Monty J.; Chatti, Karim; Vandenbossche, Julie
Personal Name
Contributor
Sivaneswaran, Nadarajah
Corporate Creator Applied Pavement Technology, Inc.
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Federal Highway Administration
Publisher United States. Federal Highway Administration
Publication Date 20171201
Language English
Abstract The need to accurately characterize the structural condition of existing pavements has increased with the recent development, release, and ongoing implementation of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). A number of different material inputs are required in the procedure, and it is important to adequately characterize and define them. The analysis of deflection data collected by the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) provides a quick and reliable way to characterize the properties of the paving layers, as well as to assess the load-carrying capacity of existing pavement structures. With the release of the new MEPDG, there is a pressing need to identify and evaluate the way that FWD testing is integrated into the new design procedure. Moreover, as highway agencies continue to implement the MEPDG, they need best practices guidance on how to effectively test existing pavement structures and interpret the results as part of a mechanistic-empirical pavement evaluation and rehabilitation process. This document is part of a three-volume report investigating the use of the FWD as part of mechanistic-empirical pavement design and rehabilitation procedures. This volume provides best practice guidelines for effective testing of existing pavement structures and interpretation of those results as part of a mechanistic-empirical pavement evaluation and rehabilitation process. Included are guidelines for deflection testing, a discussion of the various data input requirements and suggested default values for backcalculation, a summary of backcalculation modeling issues, and information on measures of convergence and verification of backcalculated results. In addition, general background information is provided on mechanistic-empirical pavement design; data and testing recommendations for project evaluation; and flexible, rigid, and composite pavement inputs. This is volume III of a three-volume report. The other volumes in the series are FHWA-HRT-16-009, Volume I: Final Report, and FHWA-HRT-16-010, Volume II: Case Study Reports.
Rosap ID dot:37586
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/37586
TRT Terms Falling weight deflectometers; Mechanistic-empirical pavement design; Modulus of resilience; Modulus of elasticity
General Subjects Pavements--Testing--Instruments--Evaluation
Geographical
Coverage
United States
OCLC 1017474157
Contract Number DTFH61-06-C-00046
Report Number FHWA-HRT-16-011; HRDI-20/12-17(WEB)E
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/65000/65500/65563/FHWA-HRT-16-011.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository