Abstract
Nondestructive tests of road pavements are among the most widely used methods of pavement condition diagnostics. Deflections of road pavement under a known load are most commonly measured in such tests, e.g., with the use of falling weight deflectometer (FWD). Measured values allow to determine the material parameters of the road structure, corresponding to the obtained results, by means of backcalculations. Among the factors that impact on the quality of results is the accuracy of deflection measurement. Deflection basins with small differences of displacement values may correspond to significantly different combinations of material parameters. Taking advantage of them for mechanistic calculations of road pavement may eventually lead to incorrect estimation of the remaining fatigue life and then inadequate selection of pavement reinforcement. This study investigated the impact of measurement errors on the change of the obtained values of stiffness moduli of flexible road pavement layers. Additionally, the influence of obtained material parameters on the values of key pavement strain, and consequently on its design fatigue life was presented.
Highlights
The determining of the state of displacement, stresses, and strains of road pavement structure is essential in the process of road pavement design and diagnostics
This study aims to assess the sensitivity of backcalculations to inaccuracies of pavement deflection measurements, regardless of the measurement method adopted for these deflections
Attention should be drawn to the high sensitivity of the values of stiffness modulus, strains and obtained fatigue life to the measurement error of deflection when every deflection error is random, which changes the shape of the deflection basin
Summary
The determining of the state of displacement, stresses, and strains of road pavement structure is essential in the process of road pavement design and diagnostics. The maximum tensile strain at the bottom of the asphalt layer and the maximum compressive strain at the top of the subgrade under standard axle load are the crucial values applied to assess the durability of flexible road pavement using mechanistic-empirical method. They are determined by adopting a certain mechanical model of the pavement structure, in which a knowledge about the values of material parameters is required. One issue that needs to be asked is whether the measurement uncertainties will influence the process of backcalculations so that the obtained values of material parameters will be subject to a large error, which may cause incorrect estimation of road pavement durability. This study aims to assess the sensitivity of backcalculations to inaccuracies of pavement deflection measurements, regardless of the measurement method adopted for these deflections
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
