APPLICATION OF FALLING WEIGHT DEFLECTOMETER DATA FOR ANALYSIS OF SUPERHEAVY LOADS

Permitting superheavy loads may increase the rate of pavement damage and the cost of maintenance. An analysis of a proposed superheavy load route (FM519) to evaluate the potential pavement damage caused by a planned superheavy load move is presented. Falling weight deflection (FWD) tests and backcalculations of layer moduli were performed on the FM519. FWD tests and backcalculations of layer moduli were performed on the pavement before and after the superheavy load was moved. ELSYM5 and BISAR were used to evaluate the pavement responses using the backcalculated layer moduli from FWD data. The predictions of surface deflections from ELSYM5 and BISAR were close to (within 10% of) the measured deflections from FWD tests. The FWD data and analyses show that the existing pavement structure is adequate for the planned superheavy load move. Finally, the permit was issued with the condition that the transport vehicle should be kept within the travel lanes and away from the shoulder whenever possible. FWD tests were conducted after the superheavy load move and comparisons with before superheavy load move were made. T-tests were performed to check for significant difference at the 95% confidence level. T-tests showed that there is no significant difference between before and after superheavy load move. Also, no significant distresses due to this superheavy load were observed after the move, and the pavement condition is consistent with the analysis performed to issue the permit.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/1540-12
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=APPLICATION+OF+FALLING+WEIGHT+DEFLECTOMETER+DATA+FOR+ANALYSIS+OF+SUPERHEAVY+LOADS&author=D.+Chen&author=E.+Fernando&author=M.+Murphy&publication_year=1996
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309059208
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1540, Recent Research in Pavement Performance.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Chen, D-H
  • Fernando, E
  • Murphy, M
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 83-90
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1540
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Backcalculation; Before and after studies; Computer programs; Defects; Deflection; Falling weight deflectometers; Forecasting; Layer coefficient; Loads; Modulus; Pavement distress; Pavements; Permits; Structural analysis; T test
• Uncontrolled Terms: Layer moduli; Structural adequacy; Superheavy load
• Old TRIS Terms: Pavement deflection
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00730303
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309059208
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 24 1997 12:00AM