INTERPRETATION OF FALLING WEIGHT DEFLECTOMETER RESULTS USING PRINCIPLES OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS. PROCEEDINGS, 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONCRETE PAVEMENT DESIGN AND REHABILITATION, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, APRIL 18-20, 1989

Abstract

This paper discusses a rigorous, theoretically sound and efficient backcalculation procedure, applicable to two-layer, rigid pavement systems. A number of practical illustrative examples demonstrate that the method presented simplifies considerably the effort required in interpreting nondestructive testing data. A unique feature of this approach is that in addition to yielding the required backcalculated parameters, it also allows an evaluation of the degree to which the in situ system behaves as idealized by theory, and provides an indication of possible equipment shortcomings. The method is extremely powerful and versatile, and may be extended to include other loading conditions, as well as multi-layer systems (flexible pavements). When the backcalculation is performed on a personal computer, execution time per deflection basin is trivial (about 1 sec). Application of the procedure to actual field data from recent projects has confirmed that it yields very realistic, consistent and reliable results.