A project was initiated to collect network-level falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data along Virginia's Interstate system. The FWD data collection aims to build a comprehensive database of deflection data and associated structural analysis to be used for future implementation of the Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide. Virginia's current network-level evaluation protocol requires that pavements be tested every tenth of a mile at four drop levels, with three deflection basins (repetitions) collected at each drop level. To test the more than 2,000 lane miles of Interstate system, it was necessary to determine if the number of test points per mile and the number of load levels used could be reduced to increase the testing production rate and reduce the high cost of testing and traffic control. FWD testing was initiated on the entire length of I-77 and on portions of I-64 and I-81 by using the current testing protocol with only two deflection basins collected at each drop level. A comprehensive statistical analysis was performed on subgrade moduli, effective structural number, and layer moduli calculated by using the AASHTO and the ELMOD methods, respectively. The results of this study document that network-level testing at 10 points per mile can be reduced to three points per mile, and the four FWD drop levels can be reduced to only one drop level, with two deflection basins collected at this load level, without statistically compromising the quality of the data collected. However, the recommendation was made to collect data at multiple load levels for future in situ characterization of material stress sensitivity.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Network-Level Falling Weight Deflectometer Testing


    Subtitle :

    Statistical Determination of Minimum Testing Intervals and Number of Drop Levels on Virginia's Interstate System


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2007-01-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Falling Weight Deflectometer Correlation

    Zaghloul, Sameh / Ahmed, Zubair / Swan, D. J. et al. | Transportation Research Record | 2005


    Implementation of Network-Level Falling Weight Deflectometer Survey

    Chowdhury, Tanveer / Shekharan, Raja A. / Diefenderfer, Brian K. | Transportation Research Record | 2012


    Falling-Weight Deflectometer Correlation

    National Research Council (U.S.) | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005


    Falling Weight Deflectometer Correlation

    Zaghloul, Sameh / Ahmed, Zubair / Swan, D. et al. | Transportation Research Record | 2005


    Comparing Traffic Speed Deflectometer and Falling Weight Deflectometer Data

    Levenberg, Eyal / Pettinari, Matteo / Baltzer, Susanne et al. | Transportation Research Record | 2018