PAVEMENT EVALUATION

TECHNIQUES

NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTS

&
DESTRUCTIVE TESTS
 NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTS

 FALLING WEIGHT DEFLECTOMETER ( FWD)

 BENKELMAN BEAM REBOUND DEFLECTION
 PLATE LOAD TEST
 WAVE PROPAGATION TESTS
 FALLING WEIGHT
DEFLECTOMETER ( FWD)
 In falling weight deflectometer (FWD) test an
impulsive load is applied
 It corresponds to the effect of loading due to
standard axle on in-service pavement.
 The instantaneous deflections of the road
surface is measured at a number of points at
different distances radially outward from the
centre of the falling weight.
 Thus, the shape of deflection bowl is obtained.
 Data used to calculate the stiffness related
parameters of pavement structure.
 The elastic moduli of individual layers in a multi-
layer system can be calculated based on
surface deflections
 Helpful in Overlay design
Back calulation to find E value
PLATE LOAD TEST
WAVE PROPAGATION METHODS

 Ground Penetration Radars

 Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW)
 Ultra Sonic Surface Wave (USW) Methods
 Used to determine pavement thickness as well
as to determine linear elastic modulus of
pavement layers
 These methods operate by measuring surface
seismic waves generated by an impulsive
source
 Advantages:
 This is a test method that can take the place of
lab testing of cores or cylinders.
 Test can be made within hours of construction.
 Limitations:
 These measurement systems must occupy a
particular location to be tested and remain
stationary during the measurement process,
with set and measurement time proportional to
the number of receivers used.
 Therefore, road and bridge closures would be
necessary for surveying existing pavements.
 DESTRUCTIVE TESTS

 Traditional test method to determine physical

pavement properties
 Tests are conducted in test pits, samples are
obtained from core borings, and laboratory
tests are conducted on the samples
 These tests have the advantage of examining
actual in-service materials
 Disadvantages
 Destructive tests are expensive, particularly
considering the amount of testing necessary for
a network-level survey
 Most properties determined by destructive
testing change very little between surveys
 Destructive testing can also have a significant
impact on traffic.