Experiences from traffic speed deflectometer (TSD) measurements on airport pavements

Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) along with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) measures high frequency comprehensive data. These data along with the Greenwood’s viscoelastic back-calculation provides a detailed insight on E-moduli, stresses and strains at each individual layers of the pavement. In this paper, the newest features of the TSD and our experiences with the measurements made at numerous major airports in Europe (Denmark, Norway, Spain and Sweden). There are three areas, where the data from the TSD specially are useful and new compared to traditional measurements: The first area is the high spatial 3D mapping of structural conditions (E-moduli) across the whole runway for each individual pavement layers. Nielsen’s visco-elastic back calculation model along with the TSD and GPR data is used to evaluate E-moduli, stress and strains in each pavement layer. This high spatial resolution 3D mapped data is used to identify the weak areas in the pavement structure. A total of 189 Km runway was measured in less than four hours during normal daytime operation. The second area is high frequency data intervals (5 cm sampling interval) which is used to find local discontinuities in the pavement structure. It can also be used to detect a susceptible reflective crack in concrete slabs and low load transfer at joints, even if it is overlaid with an asphalt layer. The difference in slopes from Doppler sensors that are located before and after the trailer’s rear axle is used to calculate SCITSD (Surface curvature Index by TSD). The third area is the estimation of a Pavement Classification Rating (PCR) for an airport runway. PCR is the Federal Aviation Agency’s (FAA) standard to classify an airport pavement by October 2024. The deflection measured from TSD data is used to calculate the E-moduli of the subgrade layer. The calculated E-moduli for the subgrade layer along with the information of each pavement layers will be used to calculate PCR for an airport runway through FAA’s FAARFIELD program.

• Record URL:
  • https://arrbknowledge.com
• Authors:
  • Arokia, M
• Conference:
  • NTRO International Technical Conference, 2023, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Publication Date: 2023-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 13p
• Monograph Title: Transport beyond certainty: NTRO International Technical Conference, Melbourne, 25-27 October 2023

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airport runways; Airports; Backcalculation; Deflection; Deflectometers; Ground penetrating radar; Pavements; Sensors; Tests for suitability, service and quality
• ATRI Terms: Airport; Back calculation; Deflection; Deflectometer; Ground penetrating radar (GPR); Pavement evaluation; Runway; Sensor
• ITRD Terms: 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 1038: Runway
• Subject Areas: Pavements; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01924623
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB Group Limited
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 18 2024 10:48AM