DYNAMIC STIFFNESS MODULUS FOR PAVEMENT SUBGRADE EVALUATION

To avoid cumbersome traditional techniques for pavement subgrade evaluation such as the California bearing ratio and the plate loading test, several nondestructive tests (NDT) as well as suitable analysis processes have been introduced to assess the properties, the structural condition, the residual life, and the possible need for improvement of pavement soils. This paper deals with implementation of the falling weight deflectometer (FWD), one of the most popular NDT techniques for pavement evaluation. The goal is twofold: a simplified dynamic simulation of the FWD test is first presented and consequently the dynamic stiffness modulus (DSM) is proposed as an indicator of pavement subgrade performance. Computation of the DSM requires only the central deflection measured during FWD testing and can be directly performed in the field. A preliminary analysis of field data suggests that the DSM represents the average dynamic modulus of elasticity of the subgrade material. Moreover, it follows notably well the trends in the results of conventional NDT techniques and can be consequently adopted to describe the performance of pavement subgrade soils under traffic-induced dynamic loads.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/8674831
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Loizos, A
  • 0000-0001-7533-5233
  • Boukovalas, G
  • Karlaftis, A
• Publication Date: 2003-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 434-443
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transportation Engineering
  • Volume: 129
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-947X
  • Serial URL: https://ascelibrary.org/journal/jtepbs

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Base course (Pavements); Coefficient of subgrade reaction; Falling weight deflectometers; Foundation engineering; Foundation soils; Highway engineering; Nondestructive tests; Pavement design; Pavement performance; Shear modulus; Subgrade (Pavements)
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00960558
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 8 2003 12:00AM