Implementation of Rolling Wheel Deflectometer (RWD) in PMS and Pavement Preservation

Details

• Creators:
  Elseifi, M. ; Abdel-Khalek , Ahmed M. ; Dasari, Karthik
• Corporate Creators:
  Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.). Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  Louisiana Transportation Research Center ; Louisiana. Dept. of Transportation and Development ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Pavements
  • Pavement management systems
  • Pavement maintenance
  • Deflection tests
  • Falling weight deflectometers
  • Rolling wheel deflectometer
  • Pavement management
  • Continuous deflection testing
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/11.492
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Louisiana
• Edition:
  Final report; 2009-2011.
• Corporate Publisher:
  Louisiana Transportation Research Center
• Abstract:
  The rolling wheel deflectometer (RWD) offers the benefit to measure pavement deflection without causing any traffic interruption or compromising safety ; along tested road segments. This study describes a detailed field evaluation of the RWD system in Louisiana in which 16 different test sites representing a ; wide array of pavement conditions were tested. Measurements were used to assess the repeatability of RWD measurements, the effect of truck speeds, and ; to study the relationship between RWD and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) deflection measurements and pavement conditions. Based on the results ; of the experimental program, it was determined that the repeatability of RWD measurements was acceptable with an average coefficient of variation at all ; test speeds of 15 percent. In addition, the influence of the testing speed on the measured deflections was minimal. The scattering and uniformity of the ; FWD and RWD data appears to closely follow the conditions of the roadway. Both test methods appear to properly reflect pavement conditions and ; structural integrity of the road network by measuring a greater average deflection and scattering for sites in poor conditions. RWD deflection ; measurements were in general agreement with FWD deflections measurements; however, the mean center deflections from RWD and FWD were ; statistically different for 15 of the 16 sites. ; This study developed and validated a direct and simple model for determining the pavement structural number (SN) using RWD deflection data. ; To develop this model, the relationship between the average RWD surface deflection and the peak FWD deflection was investigated. The developed model ; correlates a pavement’s SN to two RWD-measured properties (average RWD deflection and RWD index). The developed model was fitted to RWD data ; collected in 16 road sections (each 1.5 miles), referred to as research sites, in Louisiana. The model was then validated based on FWD and RWD data ; collected on 52 road sections in Louisiana. Results showed a good agreement between SN calculations obtained from FWD and RWD deflection testing. ; While the developed model is independent of the pavement thickness and layer properties, it provides promising results as an indicator of structural ; integrity of the pavement structure at the network level. The fitting statistics support the use of the proposed model as a screening tool for identifying ; structurally deficient pavements at the network level. ; Based on the RWD evaluation conducted in District 05, this study recommends extending the use of RWD to the other districts in Louisiana. ; The RWD index (RI) is recommended to be adopted on a provisional basis by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) ; Pavement Management System (PMS) as a network structural analysis index with three categories: thin pavements less than 3 in. thick, medium pavements ; between 3 to 6 in., and thick pavements greater than 6 in. It should be incorporated into the PMS system and placed on Geographic Information System ; (GIS) maps. ; The structural number equation should be considered valid and used as a tool to evaluate the structural condition of pavements for network ; purposes with similar categories as the RI. The PMS section will incorporate the SN values in their process using trigger values outlined in the report. If ; the PMS section considers the new index to be of significant value, then another district will be assessed with the RWD.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  LTRC project number: 09-2P ; SIO number: 30000143
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/24897/dot_24897_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.44 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:b0c513b87c1b53f9f3c140e4a0cc0455fdc243ddc5ca8dea2a0b81c6798b0ec2