12th Annual FWD

Users Group Meeting

FWD wave propagation modelling and

equipment calibration

Christ van Gurp – KOAC•WMD

SpecifiQ

 Specifications for a harmonised

European calibration station for
improved Falling Weight Deflectometers
measurement of road quality

 EC co-funded project 4th Framework

Programme - ‘Standard, Measurement
and Testing’ scheme

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Consortium
KOAC•WMD
KUAB
EnåGruppen
MOSGeotechnics
Delft Universityof Technology
Carl BroPavement Consultants
CROW
Viagroup

3
Objectives SpecifiQ

 Development pavement response

model (wave propagation)
 Development approach for exchange of
FWD data
 Drafting technical requirements set to
FWD calibration stations
 Drafting FWD calibration procedures

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Why?

 Difficulties in exchanging or comparing

deflection data from different types of
FWD
– How to feed a database?
 Current backanalyses based on peak
values of deflection only

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Stiff Subgrade

0 0.025 0.05 0.075 0.1

0.2

0
deflection [mm]

-0.2

-0.4

Pulse = 25 ms
Pulse = 50 ms -0.6

-0.8
time [sec]
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Soft Subgrade

0 0.025 0.05 0.075 0.1

0.3

0
deflection [mm]

-0.3

-0.6

-0.9

Pulse = 25 ms
-1.2
Pulse = 50 ms
-1.5
time [sec]
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Goal

 Retrieval of valuable structural

information from deflection data
independent from type of FWD
 Effects of wave propagation and load
pulse duration
 Development of a quick technique to be
operated on a PC

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Response model
 Development of the spectral element
approach and not finite element model
 Forward version for effect of pulse
duration
 Backcalculation version for determination
of layer characteristics
 Development of prototype processing
software code LAMDA
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Response model

 Use of whole history

 Backcalculation of layer stiffnesses and
layer thicknesses
 More validation needed
 Current FWD data collection to be
amended to comply with requirements
of LAMDA

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Calibration & Verification

 Adjust gain factors of instrument under

test to match readings to those of
reference instrumentation

 Compare readings of instrument under

test to those of reference instruments
and fine-adjust when needed

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Reference & Relative
 In reference calibration the response of the
instrument under test is matched to the output
of a different reference instrument

 In relative calibration the responses of similar

types of instrument under test are fine-adjust
within allowed tolerances so that equivalent
readings obtained

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Calibration aspects (1/2)

 Dynamic calibration mounted load cell

 Static calibration dismounted load cell
 Reference calibration of dismounted
deflection sensor
 Ref. verification of deflection sensor
mounted to the raise/lower bar
 Rel. calibration of deflection sensors

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Calibration Aspects (1/2)

 Dynamic calibration mounted load cell

 Static calibration dismounted load cell
 Reference calibration of dismounted
deflection sensor
 Ref. verification of deflection sensor
mounted to the raise/lower bar
 Rel. calibration of deflection sensors

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Calibration Aspects (2/2)
 Short-term repeatability of load and
deflections
 Long-term repeatability of deflections
 Calibration of temperature probe
 Calibration of oedometer
 Verification of deflection sensor offsets
 FWD correlation trial

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Calibration Aspects (2/2)
 Short-term repeatability of load and
deflections
 Long-term repeatability of deflections
 Calibration of temperature probe
 Calibration of oedometer
 Verification of deflection sensor offsets
 FWD correlation trial

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Reference In-situ
Deflection Verification
 Provides data on whether we measure
the ‘real’ deflection
 Procedure with deflection sensors
mounted to holder on raise/lower bar
 How to measure reference deflection
 Feasibility study on use of servo-
accelerometer as reference

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Feasibility of
Servo-accelerometer
 Purchase of servo-accelerometer and
data acquisition soft/hardware
 Test set-up
 Test and analysis of data at laboratory
scale
 First draft of calibration procedure

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Servo-accelerometer
Test Set-up

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Servo-accelerometer
Test Results
1,4

1,2
Geophone - Accelerometer (µm)

1,0

0,8

0,6

0,4

0,2

0,0

-0,2

-0,4

-0,6
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
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Deflection Accelerometer (µm)
Feasibility of
Servo-accelerometer
 Field trial with servo-accelerometer mounted
in or on the pavement
 Alignment of sensor under test and
accelerometer
 Effect of release of falling mass and
vibrations of passing traffic
 Analysis of field data
 Drafting user friendly software and calibration
procedure
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Long-term Repeatability
of Deflections
 Easy verification of accuracy of FWD at
home base of user
 Marked test station
 Shielded from climatic influences

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Long-term Repeatability
of Deflections
 Warming up of rubber buffers
 Application of ten drops
 Measure pavement temperature at mid-
depth of slab or layer
 Record time and date of the year
 Determination of normalised centre
deflection

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Long-term Repeatability
of Deflections
 Trend pattern search for first five series of
testing for referencing
– Temperature & Date of testing
 Prediction of reference deflection
 Difference of measured and predicted
deflection
 Ratio difference of deflections and
reference deflection less than 0.04
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FWD Correlation Trial

 Determination FWD correlation factor

 Short-term repeatability

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FWD Correlation Trial

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Organisation of
FWD Correlation trial
 Organising panel
– planning
– recruitment of FWDs
– authorization final report
 Supervisor
– assistance of executive officer
– decision on anomalies
– not an FWD owner!
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Organisation of
FWD Correlation trial
 Executive officer
– actual organisation of correlation trial
– instruction of operators
– analysis of data
– reporting
– may be an FWD owner!

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Preparation

 At least 9 stations for correlation trial

– various layer thicknesses
– various degrees of structural support
– various types of subgrade
 3 stations for repeatability experiment
 Asphalt wearing course
 No visible distress

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Reference group

 Eligible FWDs for defining reference

deflection
– National FWDs
– FWD carrying valid CROW certificate

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Testing

 Smoothing option on (60 Hz)

 Five drops per station
 Last four drops submitted for analysis
 Mean normalised deflection per station

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Reference deflection
 Ranking of deflections of eligible group
 Remove highest and lowest ranked
deflection and determine mean of
remaining deflections
 Deviation ratio of deflection per eligible
FWD (too high: remove from group)
 Remaining eligible FWDs define
reference
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Correlation factor

 Determination of adjustment factor per

FWD, per station, per sensor
 Requirement set to standard deviation
 FWD correlation factor is overall mean
(0.80 - 1.20)

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Structure EN Standard
 Scope
 Normative and informative references
 Symbols and abbreviated terms
 Apparatus
 Procedure
 Preparation
 Analysis
 Report
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Parties in Calibration
 FWD User
 FWD Calibration Station

 To make the start easy

 To have the whole procedure accepted
 Use of expensive reference instruments and
complex procedures only when necessary

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FWD User Level

 Verification of deflection sensor position

along raise/lower bar
 Short-term repeatability verification
 Long-term repeatability verification
 Rel. calibration of deflection sensors
 Ref. calibration of temperature probe
 Ref. calibration of oedometer
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Calibration Station Level

 Static ref. calibration of load cell

 Dynamic ref. calibration of load cell
 Laboratory ref. calibration of
dismounted deflection sensors
 In-situ ref. calibration of dismounted
deflection sensors
 FWD correlation trial

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 Calibration Flow Chart
each month each month

2 3

Part 3 Part 2

no
no OK ? Adjust
OK ? 5

yes
Part 4
End

OK ? 8

End 38
Pre-drafting EN Standard

 Usually work of Working Group

 Nominated experts in Working Group
 Contact with national delegations of
parent Technical Committee
 Circulation of drafts to Technical
Committee for checking and approval

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UK & N.Ireland FWD
Users Group Meeting
 Email: conferences@trl.co.uk

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41
3rd Euro FWD/Profilers
User Group Meeting
 Legoland at Billund, Denmark
 27-30 March 2003
 Programme
– Calibration
– Operation
– Interpretation
 Visit to Legoland included!
 Email: eufwd@olefog.dk
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