STRUCTURAL EVALUATION OF RIGID PAVEMENT USING FALLING WEIGHT DEFLECTOMETER (FWD
Keywords:
Back Calculation, Concrete Pavement, Elastic Modulus, Falling Weight Deflectometer, Modulus of subgrade reaction.Abstract
A large number of cement concrete pavements have been constructed in India on all categories of roads in order to have durable maintenance-free roads even under adverse conditions. The pavement might be over designed or under designed. It is necessary to determine the actual pavement design parameters such as strength of concrete and modulus of subgrade reaction by back
calculation from field tests after the construction and reassess actual life of the pavement. One of the most difficult exercises for a pavement engineer is analyzing deflection data collected with FWDs have been in use for over 30 years; the methods to process the data are far from perfect. Engineers, based on the deflection, their experience and judgments, can take appropriate measures to prevent continuing damage to concrete pavements. Structural evaluation exercise should include load transfer at the transverse and longitudinal joints so that necessary measures may be taken to retrofit dowel and tie bars before extensive damage occurs. The
deflection data can be used to detect voids at transverse joints, longitudinal joints, interiors as well as at the corners so that actions can be taken to fill up the voids by grouting to prevent large scale damage to pavements. This study may help to understand the periodical measurements, performance, traffic, climatic condition, etc.
