Dimensional Analysis in NDT Rigid Pavement Evaluation

Abstract

A consistent and theoretically rigorous approach is presented, using the principles of dimensional analysis, and leading to a closed‐form back‐calculation procedure for a two‐layer slab‐on‐grade pavement system. The equations required are derived and evaluated for four fundamental combinations of loading and support conditions. A short computer program has been coded, called ILLI‐BACK, to implement the method on a personal computer. The execution time per back‐calculation is trivial (a fraction of a second). This procedure simplifies considerably the effort required in interpreting nondestructive deflection data. It is much more efficient and accurate than current approaches, allowing the use of any one of the measured sensor deflections in the back‐calculation process. The concept proposed is powerful and versatile, and can easily be adapted for a wide variety of other applications, involving both rigid and flexible pavement systems.