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.