Using Falling Weight Deflectometer Data with Mechanistic-Empirical Design and Analysis, Volume III: Guidelines for Deflection Testing, Analysis, and Interpretation

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.

• Record URL:
  https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/16011/16011.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Applied Pavement Technology, Incorporated

  115 W. Main Street
  Suite 400
  Urbana, IL  United States  61801

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Pierce, Linda M
  • Bruinsma, James E
  • Smith, Kurt D
  • Wade, Monty J
  • Chatti, Karim
  • Vandenbossche, Julie M
• Publication Date: 2017-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Glossary; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 126p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Data collection; Deflection tests; Falling weight deflectometers; Guidelines; Mechanistic-empirical pavement design; Modulus; Modulus of elasticity; Pavement design; Structural analysis
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01655913
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-HRT-16-011
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-06-C-00046
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 2 2018 10:42AM