Elmod 6

Quick Start Manual

Dynatest International A/S

California + 1 805 648 2230 usa@dynatest.com
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 Table of Contents
1. Introduction _____________________________________________________ 3
2. Compatibility ____________________________________________________ 3
3. Installation ______________________________________________________ 5
4. Registration Procedure ____________________________________________ 6
5. The Main Menu __________________________________________________ 8
5.1 Menu Items _____________________________________________________________ 8
6. Navigating in the Menus __________________________________________ 13
7. Settings ________________________________________________________ 14
8. Projects and Data Files ___________________________________________ 18
8.1 Creating a New Project___________________________________________________ 19
8.2 Importing FWD Data Files________________________________________________ 20
8.3 Opening Projects and Data Files ___________________________________________ 22
8.4 Delete Options __________________________________________________________ 23
9. Viewing and Editing Data File _____________________________________ 24
10. Entering Structural Information ____________________________________ 25
11. Performing Backcalculation _______________________________________ 27
12. Performing Designs ______________________________________________ 29
12.1 Overlay Design _________________________________________________________ 29
12.2 New Design ____________________________________________________________ 33
13. Viewing Results _________________________________________________ 35
13.1 Graphs and Tables ______________________________________________________ 35
13.2 Options ________________________________________________________________ 37
13.3 Sectioning ______________________________________________________________ 38
13.4 Tools __________________________________________________________________ 39
13.5 Map __________________________________________________________________ 40
13.6 Editing Graph Layout ___________________________________________________ 42
14. Parameter Setup _________________________________________________ 43
14.1 Seasons ________________________________________________________________ 44
14.2 Materials ______________________________________________________________ 45
14.3 Vehicles and Wheels _____________________________________________________ 50
15. FEM/LET/MET _________________________________________________ 54
15.1 FEM Plot ______________________________________________________________ 63
15.2 Edit Mesh ______________________________________________________________ 64
16. PCN ___________________________________________________________ 66
17. LCCA Life Cycle Cost Analysis ___________________________________ 67

2
1. Introduction
The purpose of this manual is to assist you getting started with the basics of
Elmod 6 FWD data analysis. It gives a brief overview through the menus and
procedures needed for importing files, doing backcalculations and designs. Only
issues regarding the functionalities of the Elmod 6 module are covered. For guides
and information about the optional module LCCA refer to the HELP file in
Elmod.

The HELP file associated with Elmod6 gives more detailed information as well as
you will find general documentation, examples and references.

2. Compatibility
PC and Windows
Elmod is designed to run on a PC under Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Elmod has been tested with Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista,
Window 7 and Windows 8, but is assumed to run also with Windows NT,
Window ME and earlier versions like Windows 98.

The required minimum screen resolution is 1024 x 768.

To be able to generate reports, you will need to have an installation of Microsoft

Word for reports designed for printing, and Microsoft Excel for exports of tables
for further processing.

Earlier versions of Elmod

Elmod 6 can read and convert Elmod 5 databases. Since Elmod 6 has a changed
database format, it is necessary for Elmod 6 to create an Elmod 6 database from
the Elmod 5 project.
If you from Project Open select an Elmod 5 project database, you will get
the following message:

Click Yes to proceed, and you will be asked for location and name for the Elmod
6 project database:

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As a default Elmod suggests the same folder, and name of the project database
with _E6 added to the name.

When you click Save the new database will be created and opened ready to be
used.

Databases and parameter files from Elmod versions 1 to 4 cannot be read

automatically by Elmod 6. Contact Dynatest in case you need assistance with
converting old data.

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3. Installation
From a CD
Insert the CD and run the file Elmod6_Setup.exe.

From an FTP download

Download the file Elmod6_<version>.zip to a directory, and unzip the files to a
temporary directory. Run the file Elmod6_Setup.exe from this directory.

SETUP procedure
Depending on the Operating System you may first receive a Security Warning
window. If so click the appropriate button to continue.

On the Welcome window click Next to continue the installation. Next you will
have a Customer Information window. You do not have to fill in anything, just
click Next to continue.

You can now accept to install Elmod6 in the default directory: C:\Program
Files\Dynatest\Elmod6 or you can change the location using the Change function.
Continue the installation by clicking Next. On the following window click Install
to start the installation.

When installation procedure has finished, click Finish to exit. In some cases you
may be asked to restart the computer for changes to take effect.

It may happen that during the installation, you will be prompted because a file
could not be updated due to Windows protection of the file. In this case just click
OK to continue the installation.

The SETUP program creates a shortcut in the Windows Start menu, from which
you can start Elmod6:

An Elmod6 Shortcut is created on your desktop.

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4. Registration Procedure
Each installation on a new computer requires a request for a license file for the
specific computer. When starting the Elmod program, a registration form will
automatically pop up if no license is present for the computer. This registration
form must be used when requesting the license from Dynatest.

If you do not wish to register at this point, you can press the Return to menu
button, and the program will continue to the main menu. The first 5 days you can
use the program with all facilities without a license file. Hereafter the program
will convert to a DEMO, where you are only allowed to open a demo file
located in the Elmod6 program folder.

If you would like to request the license file, then press the button Create Mail to
Dynatest. You will then be asked to enter the name of your company or
institution and to identify your home country from a list.

Next you will have the window, as shown below, where you can accept or reject
the license conditions. Please use the scroll button at the right to see all text in the
license agreement.

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If you accept the agreement the program will start up your default e-mail service,
and prepare a new e-mail with certain information placed in the header lines. All
you have to do is to send the e-mail. Dynatest will mail back the license file,
usually within 24 hours. If you choose not to accept the agreement, then the
program will convert into a DEMO version.

If one of these situations occurs:

- You do not have e-mail service on the computer.

- The e-mail service does not start automatically.
- The wrong e-mail service is starting.
- The header line is empty.

Then please use the other button I dont have email facilities on this computer.
This procedure will save the necessary information to a text file
Mail_to_Dynatest.txt in the folder: C:\Dynatest\Elmod6. You can then attach
this file to an email to Dynatest using your normal e-mail service.

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5. The Main Menu
This chapter will give you a brief overview of menu items and shortcuts available.
For details about the functionalities please follow the references.

5.1 Menu Items

Some of the menu items may be disabled, if they have no relevance at the current
stage, e.g. you cannot view a data file before you have opened one, and you
cannot do a design before you have done a backcalculation.

Project

This opens a submenu with access to handling projects and files:

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Select Database to manage project databases:

Open opens a browser to locate a previously created project database.

Create new opens a browser to allow selection of location and name for a new
project database
Quick Launch allows creating a database and importing a file automatically by
selecting an FWD file.
Compress database is a facility to compact and repair existing databases. It is
only enabled if no project database has been opened.

Select Datafile to manage files in the project database:

Open from database is used when an existing file in the project database should
be the current file to process.
Import FWD file to database opens a file browser to locate FWD files to import.
Import from several directories can be used to locate FWD files to import if they
are located in different folders.
Merge files is a facility to combine two imported files into one.
Rename file allows you to give the currently opened file a new name.

Select Batch to run backcalculation for a range of files in one operation. All
selected files must be present in the current database.

Select Delete Options for access to various possibilities to delete analysis results
and files:

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Select Recent Files for fast access to previously opened files.

These can be accessed even if no project is open and even if they belong to
another project than the current one. The accessed files project database will
automatically become the current one.

(See 8. Projects and Data Files for details.)

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Review Data

Clicking Review Data gives access to view and edit information from an opened
data file. Temperature curves can be viewed and edited, and it is possible to split
files. (For more information see the Help function accessible from the Elmod
Main Menu).

Structure

Click Structure to enter pavement thicknesses and materials, and to define

subsections. Further it gives access to define GPR thickness data, and to input
information for joint calculations.
(See 10. Entering Structural Information).

Moduli

Click Moduli to get access to start a backcalculation of layer moduli. You have
access to Radius of curvature method, to Deflection Basin Fit method, and to the
optional module FEM/LET/MET.
(See 11. Performing Backcalculations)

Plot

Click Plot to access the facilities for presentation of deflections data and results of
calculations. There are facilities for graphics, printed reports and export to various
file types.
(See 13. Viewing Results).

Parameters

Click Parameters to view and edit a parameter setup for designs. If no project is
open you have access to the default parameter setups, otherwise you have access
to the parameter setups stored in the current project database, and the possibility
of saving edited setups both as default and as project specific.
(See 14. Parameter Setup)

Design

Click Design to perform either overlay design or new design:

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Overlay design is used to calculate required overlay thickness on existing layers.
PCN calculations are also available from here, if this module is licensed.
New design is used to calculate completely new structures, not using any
backcalculation results.
To carry out a design you have to select a parameter setup and to enter
information about layer material types and traffic
(See 12. Performing Designs).

LCCA

Click LCCA to get access to the optional module LCCA (Life Cycle Cost
Analysis). This is only available if you have license for this module.
(For more information see the Help function accessible from the Elmod Main
Menu).

Options

Clicking Options brings up this submenu:

Edit Aircraft Database is used to add, delete and modify information in this
database delivered as a part of the Elmod software package. The database contains
information about aircraft details, and is used in connection with setting up load
configurations for aircrafts in Parameters, and as the source for ACN values,
when using the PCN facility.

Click Edit Geophone Setup to get access to select/deselect geophones used for
input to the backcalculation.

Click Edit Temperature Table to make changes to the defined asphalt modulus /
temperature relations defined as tables.

Settings

Click Settings to access some overall settings for Elmod6, like language and unit
system. Correct settings must be entered before creating a new project database.
(See 7. Settings).

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 Help

Clicking Help brings up this submenu:

Help File brings up this Help system.

Registration gives access to apply for license file.

(See 4. Registration Procedure)

About gives information about program version and licenses.

6. Navigating in the Menus

With the Mouse
When moving the mouse cursor over a menu item (label or related icon), you will
automatically see the submenu if there is one, and you can continue to move the
mouse to the submenu item you want to go to. Submenu items can have a new
submenu level. In this manner you can reach any menu item or submenu item
without clicking the mouse. Once you have highlighted the desired item, you need
to click to activate the item.

The advantages are that you can move fast around in the menus and save a lot of
mouse clicks. The drawback is that you need to be a bit more careful with the
mouse movements, because a selected submenu window will disappear if you
move the cursor outside the submenu window. This drawback is reduced a bit by
making the submenu items larger, which also allows more space for the related
icons.

From the keyboard

The whole menu system can be controlled without using the mouse. Instead the
key with the first letter of the menu label can be pressed (not case sensitive).

To open a database you would then press: pdo and <Enter>

(p for Project, d for Database, o for Open and <Enter> to activate)

You will see that the mouse cursor is following your choices, so it is easy at any
time in the process to let the mouse take over.

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7. Settings
Select Settings from the main menu to access this facility.

This allows setting a number of general parameters in Elmod, and it must be

checked that the settings are correct before creating a new database.

General

Settings on this tab are defaults for any new database that is created. Changes will
be reflected for both new and existing databases, except Printer Setup which
needs to be checked for each run as it may be changed by the use of other
applications.

Language contains a selection of languages which can be used in the user

interface. Elmod is delivered with English as standard, and prepared for
translation into other languages if feasible. In the current list of languages only
few of the choices are active, and they may not be updated in the current release,
as this will only happen in cooperation with clients demanding translations.

Units. Elmod can work with either the SI Metric system or with the US
Customary system. Switching between the two systems of units can only be done
when no project database is open. Once a project database is created with the
defined unit system, it cannot be changed within the project database.

Weather Report Site indicates a link to a website where temperature information

is available. In the Estimate Moduli window, there is an option to click the Link

14
button, when using Bells equation for correcting surface temperature to mid-
depth asphalt temperature. Clicking this button will open the website to allow
searching for temperature information for the specific area and period.

Tooltips activated. Elmod6 comes with a comprehensive tooltips functionality,

giving information boxes when moving the mouse pointer over menus, buttons
and text fields. This is useful for new users of Elmod6, but after a while when
getting experienced with the functionalities you may wish to switch it off, as they
can be annoying if you do not need them.

Printer Setup. This allows changing the default printer as all reports now goes
into Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel you can just as well set the default printer
in these applications. The only exception is the print graph facility in the PLOT
program where the graphics are sent directly to the printer.

Technical

If a data file is open the settings on this tab will always be saved to the current
project. By checking Save also as permanent the changes will also be saved for
use with new projects created. If no data file is open, changes will be saved as
permanent changes.

Sort data by chainage. This is used when importing FWD files. Usually, it is
most convenient to have the data sorted by chainage because pavement structure
data are entered by chainage and some plotting features like sectioning and XY
graphs only works if stationing is in increasing order. One possible reason to keep
the original order of the test points is if the file contains measurements in both
directions of a road, and the two directions have to be analyzed separately. In this

15
case the sorting can be unchecked and the Review data facilities can be used to
split the file into two more easily than if the data were sorted.

Automatic insertion of seed values. In the Structural data window where you
define the pavement structure, Elmod will use this setting to determine if seed
moduli should be inserted automatically when selecting materials. If it is switch
on, Elmod will insert the materials reference moduli as defined in the Parameter
setup. The seed moduli are used as start values in the iteration procedures for
calculating the layer moduli.

Use moduli restriction. In the Parameter setup you can set a minimum and
maximum allowable modulus for each material. If you switch on the restriction,
Elmod6 will use these values in the backcalculation of moduli and not allow the
modulus to exceed these values.

Distress reduction factors. These values relate to a project database, and can
only be set when a project database is open. They can be relevant to use if FWD
tests have been performed on cracked surfaces, and the FWD operator during the
tests have indicated this in the data file using the facility in the Field program
where he can indicate moderate cracking or severe cracking. When the surface is
cracked it may be impossible or irrelevant to try to backcalculate the modulus of
the top layer. Instead the modulus of the top layer can be fixed to an estimated
value, and Elmod will then reduce this fixed value with the factors entered for
moderate and severe cracking.

Load transfer. When joints have been tested in relation to jointed concrete
pavements, the load transfer can be calculated. The load transfer efficiency can be
calculated according to two different methods. Both methods make use of the
deflections from the two geophones positioned at each side of the joint, and a
bending factor from the mid-slab test using the deflections from the same
geophones. Westergaards equation provides the actual load transfer between the
two slabs, whereas the FHWA equation is the deflection ratio.

D refers to deflection, J and M to joint and mid-slab and 1 and 2 to first and
second geophone chosen for the joint calculation.

Em factor. The default value of this factor is 1. The E m factor is a design factor.
The measured E m corresponds to the dynamic FWD load. If the subgrade
design criterion was based on a static plate loading test, and you know that the

16
dynamic modulus is 1.3 times the static modulus, for example, then you would
enter this factor, and the design part of the program will use the static E m .
Similarly, if you have been using results of a triaxial test, and you know that they
give 0.3 times the dynamic FWD value (as claimed by AASHTO) then you would
enter a factor of 1/0.3 = 3.33.

k factor. A similar factor can be applied to the kvalue, used with Westergaards
equations, and also used for reporting the subgrade category with PCN for rigid
pavements. Notice the dynamic k-value is considered to be less than the static
derived k-value, in which case the entered factor must be less than 1.

Subgrade categories. Subgrade categories give access to modify the relation

between CBR values and subgrade elastic modulus. This is required to report the
subgrade category according to ICAOs definition for reporting PCN values.
This is a table which simply translates the CBR limit values into E-values

Colors

Changes on this tab will be valid for both current project and for new created
projects.

You can select colors for various objects in the windows. For window background
color you can specify a graduation by setting different top and bottom color. Level
1 refers to the Main menu window, and Level 2 refer to windows that open on top
of the main window, likewise Level 3 refers to windows that opens on top of
Level 2 windows. Click in the boxes to change the colors. Click the Change to
factory settings button to reset colors to the default settings as they came with the
installation.

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8. Projects and Data Files
A Project is defined as a collection of data files. The project name refers to the
name of a single Microsoft Access database where to which the data files have
been imported. Elmod6 can only work with data files that are imported into a
project database.

A Data File is a collection of test points measured with the FWD/HWD, and
stored in one file named by the operator during the field testing.

When a new set of data files have been brought in from the field, the first step will
be to create a new project database for later import of the data files. The idea is
that you can keep all data files belonging to a specific project in a single project
database. This may be a collection of files from an airfield, from a single road, or
from multiple roads belonging to the same contract. A reasonable number of files
in one project database would be from 1 to 50 or 100, but there is no upper limit,
except that the size of the database could grow to an unmanageable size or the
program performance would slow down at some stage.

The second step is to import the data files. Even if only one data file has to be
analysed it must be imported into a project database. Once this has happened, you
will not need the FWD data file any longer (except for backup purposes).

Analysis can now be performed by opening the proper file from the project
database, and all results will go into the project database.

If you are going to analyse or view results from an earlier created project, the
procedure is to open the project and then to open the data file from the project.
Alternatively, you might find the file in the list of recent files in the Project menu.
This will automatically open both the project database and the data file.

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8.1 Creating a New Project
From the main menu select: Project Database Create new

The browser window as shown below will open and you can select where to
create your project database, and which name you want to assign to the database.
The file extension must be .mde, which Elmod will recognise as an Elmod
Project Database.

When you click Save, Elmod will create the project database, and the default
Parameter setups will be copied to the new database. This project database will
become the current database.

The title bar of the Main Window will always display the currently opened
project:

Alternatively, you can use Project Database Quick Launch (or hotkey Q)
which allows to select an FWD file. Hereafter, the database creation and import of
the file will happen automatically. As default the database will be located in same
folder as the data file and be given the same name, but you will have options to
change both.

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8.2 Importing FWD Data Files
To import a FWD data file, or multiple data files located in same directory, select
from the Main menu: Project Datafile Import FWD File to Database

Elmod 6 can open all standard FWD files stored by a Dynatest FWD or HWD
regardless of field program version or file format. A standard dialog box enables
choice of directory and subdirectory location. By default, all files having
extensions as FWD, F10, F20, F25 and MDB are shown. If another extension has
been selected by the user e.g. DAT, these can be displayed in the file dialog boxes
by selecting "All files" in the File Type Box.

The File Open Dialog will be shown as seen below:

Files with standard extensions will be displayed from the selected directory.
Notice that the new MDB format from the Dynatest Field Program can also be
imported.
You can now select a single file or a range of files to be imported. To select a
range of files use the standard Windows functionality <Shift> or <Control>.

20
If you select a single file, you will have the opportunity to store the file under a
different name, when you have clicked the OK button:

The last file in the import will automatically become the currently opened file, as
you will see in the Title bar:

If you select Project Datafile Import From Several directories you will
have a more convenient way of importing files one by one when they are located
in different directories. You also have the possibility to change the filename of
each file.

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8.3 Opening Projects and Data Files
To open an existing project select: Project Database Open
You will then get the usual File Open Dialog Box from which you can browse to
the location of the database. Only files with extension .mde will be listed.
When you have clicked OK to open a database, you can open a data file from the
database by selecting: Project Datafile Import
If the project database only contains one file, this file will be opened
automatically. If there are more files you will get the list of files for selection.

Click the data file you want to work with, and click OK.

If the specific data file is among the list of recent files in the Project menu, you
can also click the file name there, and both Project and data files will open
automatically.

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8.4 Delete Options
The Delete Options gives you following possibilities:

Deleting complete project database will delete the project MDE file from the hard
disk with all imported files.

Deleting a file from the project will remove all information including any results
about the specific file, which is currently opened.

Deleting all results from the file will delete the results of all calculations that
have been made for the currently opened file.

Deleting designs from file will delete all design calculations for the currently
opened file, while the results of backcalculations will remain.

For all choices you will be asked to confirm the process.

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9. Viewing and Editing Data File
To view and edit various information from the currently opened data file select
Review Data from the Main menu.

What you see is the file information stored in the project database. Any editing to
this information will not affect the original FWD data file, which was used during
import.
In the table with test points and deflections you can edit values in the white
coloured cells. To edit, click the cell and make the correction. Press <Enter> or
click another cell to accept changes. Nothing will be stored to the database until
you press the button Save New Data. To reject your changes, just click Cancel.
The columns T,asp and T,surf in the data grid refer to the recorded asphalt
temperature and surface temperature during testing.
The columns JointID and PosID are identifiers used for recognising the position
of the FWD during measurements of jointed pavements where tests at corners and
edges are used to calculate joint conditions.
The button View Geophone Positions will open a window, with a drawing of
how the geophones have been positioned during testing. This is useful when
measuring with a Rear Extension Bar or a Star Bar.

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10. Entering Structural Information
When a data file is open, you can enter layer thicknesses by selecting Structure
from the Main menu. The following window will open:

In the example above you will see a 3layer structure (including subgrade)
defined as 200 mm of wearing course layer on 300 mm of base layer. For a 3
layer system this is all that is required to perform a backcalculation. Information
about material types will not be required before design suggestions have to be
calculated.

You can divide the data file into subsections with different layer information
using the Add Section button, and set the chainage of each subsection in the
From and To data fields.

25
In the figure below you see an example where additional information has been
entered:

The file has been divided into 3 subsections, and material types have been defined
by first selection a parameter setup after which the material type for each layer
can be selected by clicking in the material input fields.

If you click the button View Structure you can get graphics reflection the defined
sections and input values:

PCC is layer No.

This is used to indicate layer number for a PCC layer, counted as 1 from the top.
This is relevant if PCN is to be used or in case of jointed pavements with joint
tests.

Use PCC Joint ID Numbers

Check this option if the joint calculations have to be included in the analysis. This
is only possible if the tests have been made on PCC slabs with measurements on
both slab centre and slab joints using the rear extension bar. The joint ID numbers

26
 identify the position of the measurement on the slab and are given by the operator
during testing.
Use GPR Data
An alternative to enter layer thickness for each section is to use this facility to use
point related data for layer structure (like results from GPR testing). In this case
check the option and click Import/Edit to get an input table for the data. It is
possible to import the data from a text file or from an Excel spreadsheet.

In the analysis, Elmod will for each FWD test point, search among the GPR data
to find the closest point with thickness information.
(For more details about the options in this window see the Help function
accessible from the Elmod Main Menu).

11. Performing Backcalculation

Start the backcalculation module by clicking Moduli from the Main menu and
you will see the window below:

Select Drops

27
If you have more than 1 drop for each test point in the file, you can specify the
drop(s) for the analysis. One or more drops may be used at a time

Select Sections
If you have divided the file into more subsections, you can specify the section(s)
for the analysis.

Temperature Status
This gives an overview of which temperatures that are available in the data file,
and the minimum and maximum recorded temperatures. From the Review Data
window have access to see graphics of the recorded temperatures.

Asphalt Temperature
Here you decide which should be used as the asphalt temperature in the
calculations, making it possible to correct the asphalt modulus for temperature to
be used with design. If manually recorded mid-depth asphalt temperatures are
present in the file, select the Use as recorded option. In the Temperature Status
frame you can see if asphalt temperatures are present. If only surface temperatures
are recorded you can select either to use them directly as the asphalt temperature
(not recommended), or you can use them as input to Bells equation for
calculating the asphalt temperature as a function of surface temperature and
previous day average air temperature. In the latter case you must enter this
average temperature in the temperature field. Clicking the Link button opens a
website with worldwide temperature measurements. Which website to open is
defined in Settings. You can select the Not required option if there is no
temperature sensitive materials in the pavement structure, or if the backcalculation
results are not going to be used for design.

Fix depth to Rock

Checking this option will regard the input from the Structures window as the
exact depth to bedrock, consequently Elmod will not calculate a depth within the
maximum range given.
The Radius of Curvature method is based on the Odemark-Boussinesq method
of equivalent thicknesses (MET) using the outer geophone readings to determine
non-linear characteristics of subgrade, and the inner geophones to determine the
upper pavement layer moduli. The stiffness of remaining layers is then calculated
based on the overall pavement response to the applied load.
The Deflection Basin Fit method still utilizes Odemark-Boussinesq methods, but
an additional iteration process will utilize the convergence criteria based on
degree of fit between the overall measured and calculated deflection basins.
Various options can be set to control the iteration process. The grid is used to
display results from the iterations during the backcalculation.
Click the Calculate button to start the backcalculations.
When finished, you can select Plot from the Main menu to view results. (See 13.
Viewing Results).
(For more details about backcalculations and settings see the Help function
accessible from the Elmod Main menu).

28
12. Performing Designs

Overlay design requires that you have performed backcalculation generating

elastic moduli for the pavement layers. You can design based on the whole
structure or part of the structure by removing top layers.

New design does not make use of FWD results or backcalculation. You can
define a structure and calculate the design thickness of the top layer.

12.1 Overlay Design

Sections with backcalculation results are listed in the grid. In the column Chosen
you can mark sections to be included in the design by clicking in the field.

29
If parameter file and material types were already entered in the Structural input,
then this information is shown in the grid and the name of parameter file used. If
the fields with the layer material type are empty, you have first to select which
parameter file to use, and then by clicking in the fields identify the material type
for each layer from the popup list.
If you have multiple sections, you can enter the material type for the first section,
and following click the button Copy first structure to copy this to the other
sections.

Base design on
Here you select if any existing layers should be removed before design of new
overlay. When you select an option, you will see in the grid which layers are
removed indicated by a greyed font color.
If you select Existing pavement then you have an option to mill a part of the top
layer, by entering a value in the frame Milled from layer 1. The value entered
must be smaller than the thickness of the top layer.
If you select Existing unbound layers then you can in the same way have a part
of the first granular layer removed.
If you select Existing subgrade then you can specify an improvement to the
subgrade moduli determined from the backcalculation by entering a percentual
increase. Entering a value of 25 means the existing moduli will be multiplied with
a factor of 1.25

Add new layers

Here you define which layer(s) to add on the top. In the usual case where you
design for an overlay of the existing pavement, you will enter one bound layer
type. Click in the combo box to specify the design layers material type. The
reference modulus for this material will automatically be inserted in the Modulus
column, and you have following possibility to change this value.

In case you wish to do a reconstruction based on the existing subgrade you would
normally also add new granular layers on the top. Elmod will only calculate
design values for the top layer, so you will have to enter both thickness and
modulus of the other new layers added, like shown in this example:

The new construction must not have more than 6 layers, with maximum 2 bound
layers included.

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Traffic
Traffic must be entered as the total passages of all vehicles per year. The number
of passages for each vehicle is then entered in the fields below as percentages of
this value.

These are the values directly used in the deterioration functions defined in the
parameter file. Issues regarding multilane roads, equivalence factors, traffic
growth etc. must be considered before entering the value. Facilities are available
for this through the buttons in the upper right corner of the Traffic frame. For
help on this see details in the Elmod 6 Help file.

If multiple vehicles have been defined in the parameter file, only the Forecasting
facility is available.

With the Import Traffic button you can select an earlier defined traffic
distribution from the same project. The processed files will be listed, and you can
select from which one you will use the traffic information. The aircraft mix
defined must be the same. The button is only enabled when you have multiple
vehicles defined

For airfields you have usually defined a fleet mix of the most critical aircrafts
using the facility, as illustrated in this example:

If the Pass to coverage option is selected in the parameter setup, the yearly traffic
for each aircraft will be divided with the factor as defined in the parameter setup
for each aircraft type.

If Normal Distribution has been selected, the following input options are shown
for defining the lines of calculation and the lines of traffic in the distribution:

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No. of lines defines for how many positions across the facility a design
calculation should be performed.
Offset first line defines the position of the first line relative to the center line.
Spacing defines the distance between the lines.
Traffic lines refers to how many positions inside the normal distribution of traffic
should be included in the analysis. The higher number the higher precision of the
representation of the normal distribution.

In the example the analysis will include calculation of responses and damages in
35 lines across the facility, starting with the center line and last line in the distance
of (35 - 1) * 300 mm = 10200 mm from the center line. For each line influence
from 50 different positions of loading will be calculated and the damages added
together. The normal distribution is centered around half of the tread value as set
in the parameter setup for each aircraft type. From the standard deviation also
defined in the parameter setup, the distance to each of the traffic lines is
calculated. During the process damages are saved to the database for each load
type and for each line, which allow viewing these in the PLOT features as a
damage profile across the facility. Hereafter, the most critical line, having the
highest damages, will be selected for the overlay design calculation.

If the structure has been defined with jointed concrete as top layer, k-values are
calculated for both center and joints during the backcalculation. In the design
window you will have an option for improving k-values at joints before
overlaying:

If you select Subsealing the design calculation will assume the k-values at joints
are improved to be the same as the values under slab center.

Click the OK button to commence the design calculation.

Earlier created designs will not be overwritten, meaning you can view design
results in the Plot feature for various traffic input or other changes.

The button View Plot is a shortcut to the plot of the design results.

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12.2 New Design
With this facility you can design a new pavement structure, and get the required
thickness of the top layer calculated. No results from the FWD testing or
backcalculations are used, so the facility is available even you have no file
opened. You still have to create a database as usual.

Select parameter setup

Select the parameter file that is valid for your design calculation. You have to
select your parameter file, before you can enter material types in the pavement
structure. For setting up parameters, see 14. Parameter Setup

Add Layers
Here you enter your pavement structure from bottom to top. Only the thickness of
the top layer can be calculated. First layer to add is the subgrade material. The
materials reference modulus is automatically inserted, and if desired you can
change this value. Next you can add the pavement layers with their respective
thicknesses (remember to enter the thickness to the right of the layer name), and at
last the top layer for which the thickness is to be calculated.

Use Monte Carlo Simulation

Check this to base the design on a Monte Carlo Simulation. You will have the
following input window next to the Add Layers window:

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This will simulate a variation in the layer moduli according to a logarithmic
normal distribution. Each simulation will generate a set of moduli randomly but
with probabilities that follow the distribution given by the standard deviation
factors. The standard deviation factor is 10 raised to the standard deviation of the
logarithms, also called the geometric standard deviation. The number of runs in
the simulation, and the standard deviation factor for each layer must be entered.
The result for each simulation can be viewed from the Plot facility, and the
average and standard deviation will be reported in the Results frame.

Select Method
Responses under the design loads can be calculated either according to MET
(Method of Equivalent Thicknesses) or LET (Linear Elastic Theory).

Traffic
Please refer to description of input in previous chapter 12.1 Overlay Design.

Results
When you have clicked Start Design the calculation will be carried out, and the
results can be viewed in the Results frame:

If a Monte Carlo simulation has been used, the thickness is given as the average
over the number of simulations and with the corresponding standard deviation.

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13. Viewing Results
Use the Plot function from the Main menu to get access to any type of results and
other data belonging to the currently opened data file. This function allows you to
create printed reports, and export data to various file types.
The Plot Menu is shown below:

The menu items Backcalculation and Design may be disabled if there are no are
no results in the database. Graph Options and Sectioning will be enabled when a
graph is displayed.
You can, at any time, when you have a data file opened, go to Plots and view any
results or deflection data from the database.

13.1 Graphs and Tables

With the menu items Raw Data, Backcalculation and Design you can select
among a collection of graphs. The possibilities are:

When you select graphs for Backcalculation and Design, then the most recent
calculation will be displayed immediately. If there are previous calculations or
calculations for other sections, you can click Graph Options from the menu and
select to view others.
No matter which graph is displayed you can click Graph Options and do various
selections and settings for the graph.
You can select Tools from the menu to provide choices for printing and exporting
graph data.
Below you see an example of the measured deflections plotted for the section.

35
In the graph each color refers to a geophone, so the upper blue line is all the center
deflections for the section. The black line indicates the measured stress level used
during testing and refers to the Y- axis on the right hand side.
Underneath the graph you have a data table with all the values displayed. In this
table you can highlight a selection using the mouse, and following press <Ctrl> +
C to copy the selection to the clipboard, from which you can paste it into other
applications.
In the lower right corner you have a window giving statistic for the data. N is
number of points included. For Elastic moduli and residual life the statistics are
based on a lognormal distribution.

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13.2 Options
For any displayed graphics you can click Graph Options. The choices you have in
Graph Options will depend of the selected graphics. In the example below, you
see the options for the graph Pavement Response.

Graph Type refers to how points are plotted along the X-axis. In an X-Y graph
the points will be plotted according to the correct distances between the points,
while the Line option plots the points with constant interval between the points.
If data are not sorted according to chainage, only Line graph can be selected.

Data sorted by chainage. If points have not been measured in increasing order,
you have the option of viewing the points either sorted or unsorted.

Interface. Defines for which layer interface results should be viewed. 1/2
means the responses at bottom of layer 1 and top of layer 2.

Design Load and Season. If multiple loads have been chosen for the design, you
can select which one to view. The same goes for seasons, which is not displayed
in the example because all seasons, for one load has been selected, in the
Selection option.

Designs gives an overview of all designs carried out for the file, and in the
Check column you can select which one to view.

Show all sections

This means that for a file subdivided into sections, you can check this and see the
graphics for the complete file. Otherwise you will only have one section at a time.

37
13.3 Sectioning
Select Sectioning Start to subdivide the existing section into subsections. The
purpose of this is usually to create homogeneous sections, based on the results or
the layer structure. With the mouse you can drag the separator lines, by left click
on the yellow stationing box, move the mouse and release the left button where
you want the line to be positioned. While moving the line you will see the
stationing change, reflecting the current position. The Station box will always
show the first station to the right of the line, which will be the first station for the
section defined. In following example you will see 5 subsections defined, based
on the calculated Elastic moduli.

In the Statistics window at the bottom right corner, you will now see 5 tabs with
information for each of the 5 defined subsections. These statistics can be printed
clicking Reports or just saved and printed later together with other values.

If you want to make the current subdivision permanent you now have to select
Sectioning Save new sections. This will change all section data in the database
for this file including all existing results, to reflect the new sectioning.

If you instead select Sectioning Stop nothing will be changed and you are back
to normal.

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13.4 Tools
Tools provides a range of options for exporting and printing results. Some options
may be disabled for some graph types.
Most of the options in the menu refer to the currently displayed graph.

Export to Excel
This opens a window with settings to the export:

Check the data types you want to have exported and click Export.
All selected data for the current section will now be transferred to Excel, which
will automatically open and organize the data into the sheets Raw data,
Backcalculation and Life and Overlay.
Notice if you only need data relating to one graph, you can copy the data from the
table below the graph. It may be necessary first to open the application to which
you want to paste the data from the Clipboard

Create Report
This will create a report in Microsoft Word based on the data for the current
graph. The report may in some case include more data than listed with the graph.
The report will automatically open Word, from where it can be printed.
The following is an example of a report of calculated E-moduli:

39
To print the report, click the printer symbol. To export data click the envelope
symbol, which will bring up a window with choices for format of the file.

Print Graph
This will immediately send the currently displayed graph to the default printer.
The graph will be fitted to the printed page.

Graph to Clipboard
This will copy the current Graph to the Clipboard, from where it can be pasted
into other applications like Microsoft Word or Excel. It may be necessary to first
open the application to which you want to paste the data from the Clipboard

Report parameters
This gives the possibility to create a report based on the parameter files used for
the current project. A Word document will open with values used for Seasons,
Materials and Loads.

13.5 Map
Elmod can display various results as themes on an internet based map.
For this facility to work, GPS data must be collected during testing, and the MDB
format files used for import to Elmod. Further the PC must have internet access,
and if protected by firewalls these must allow Elmod and the DLL DTMap to
access the internet.

40
The following is an example of level of deflections illustrated by colors.

Color settings are defined in the Map facility Settings:

41
Map can display results for multiple files from the same database in the same
view.
For more help about Map click the View Manual button in the Map facility.

13.6 Editing Graph Layout

In the Graphics windows you have a range of icons for accessing layout tools for
the graph:

No matter which icon you click, you will have the same layout menu, but with
different tabs highlighted:

This facility has its own Help file. If you select the tab System you will have
access to save layouts, and you will also find possibilities to export the graphics to
a picture file (BMP, JPF, WMF) or to the clipboard for insertion into other
applications. It is also possible to print the graphics from here.

42
14. Parameter Setup
A parameter setup contains information that defines the local environmental
conditions, traffic characteristics, and material performance characteristics. It is
used by the remaining life and overlay design function of Elmod 6. Elmod 6
allows the user to create and tailor parameter files to just about any conditions. It
is customary to create a parameter file that is relevant to a specific job, area,
environment, set of materials, or network of pavements. These parameter setups
can be saved and/or altered to meet specific project requirements, as necessary.

The information contained in the parameter file is extremely important and is

basically the heart of the design process. Problems with overlay design
calculations can often be attributed to the presence of unrealistic or inaccurate
information in this file.

A list of parameter setups is presented by clicking on the Parameters menu item.

A new parameter file can be created by changing parameters in an existing file
and saving it under a new name. The new parameter file may be saved for the
specific project only and/or as a permanent file made available to all future
projects. NOTE: If the changed parameters are saved under the original file name,
the original file is overwritten.

You can edit all input fields on all tabs before saving. All changes will stay in
memory until you press the Save, Delete or Cancel buttons.

Save setup will overwrite your existing loaded setup.

Save as new Setup will ask for a name for the new setup, and then add this to the
list of available setups.
Save as permanent Setup will ask for a name of the name setup and add this to
the list of available setups for all new created databases. The default setups
coming with the installation can not be overwritten or deleted.
Delete will permanently remove the loaded setup from the list of available setups.
Cancel will return to menu without saving any changes you have made.
Export gives the possibility to export the setup to another project database. A
Browser will open to allow you to identify which project database to export to.

If a project file is not yet opened, you will select among the list of permanent
parameter files. If a project is open, you will select among the parameter setups
present in the project database. When you create a new database all the permanent
parameter setups will be copied to the project database. In this way you can select

43
if you want to modify parameter setups only for the current project, or if you want
to make permanent changes.

When you have selected which parameter setup to work with all data for the
specified setup is loaded into 4 tabs: Seasons , Material Types , Vehicles , and
Wheels From the materials option Design Criterias can be setup for each defines
material type. When finished, the user can store the parameters under a new
filename, or overwrite the existing file.

14.1 Seasons
For design purposes, the year may be divided into seasons, with a maximum of 12
seasons. The program calculates moduli corresponding to each season, with
respect to seasonal temperature for the asphalt layer and the time elapsed since
spring thaw or wet period for the unbound materials (including the subgrade).

The remaining life and associated overlay design is then based on the cumulative
amount of damage occurring during each season for all design loads using Miner's
law.

The user subdivides the year into seasons. For each season the length in weeks is
entered, as well as the week to be considered characteristic of that season. The
week number is counted from the beginning of the year. The characteristic week
is the week in which all the loads of the season would result in the same damage
as when the loads are spread out over the season. By subdividing a season Elmod
6 may be used, through a trial and error process, to accurately determine which
week is characteristic. Total number of weeks must add up to 52.

The first season will start 1st of January, which means that you would need to
divide a season into two seasons if it overlaps this date.

44
If loads are evenly distributed over the year you can click the Even distribution
button and Elmod will calculate the accurate percentage values to put into the load
per season fields.

When you modify seasonal temperatures or factors on the Material Types tab,
you have graphics available to see the effect of the settings for each season. From
this graphics you also have the possibility of adjusting the characteristic week
inside each season.

14.2 Materials
When selecting the Material Types tab you get the possibility to see and edit all
information in the setup that relates to each of the defined materials.

In the list box to the left you have the current list of materials, and the information
on the tab relates to the highlighted item in the list. You can click in the list to
view the other materials properties.

Create new material button adds a new material to the list. You will be asked to
assign a name for the material (must be unique for the setup), and the new
material will be added with properties which are a copy of the currently selected
material. You can proceed by changing any values for the new material. Nothing
will be saved before you click one of the save buttons on the right hand side, but
all changes will be stored in memory even if you select other material types to
view and edit.

Delete current material removes the material from the list.

Material Name replicates the highlighted name from the list box. It is not
possible to change the name due to reference conflicts. Alternatively you can
create a new material with the desired name, and delete the existing material.

45
Material Type can be selected from the dropdown box. The information is used
in the design procedures to determine the number of bound layers.

Ref. Modulus. The reference modulus of the material is used as the design value
in case the material is chosen as the design material. The value is also used to
optionally be inserted as seed value in Structures window.

Temperature dependant. This defines whether the material modulus is sensitive

to temperatures. If it is checked the tab Temperature dependency will be
enabled for definition of the modulus/ temperature relationship. The title of the
last tab will be Seasonal temperatures for defining temperature variation over
the year. If Temperature dependant is not checked the last tab will show
Seasonal factors for defining modulus variation over the seasons due to other
reasons, like frost/thaw periods or rainy seasons affecting the condition of the
unbound materials.

Fatigue Cracking and Permanent Deformation. This defines which criteria

should be used for determining the residual life of the material. The details for
selecting the criteria are on the related tabs below. Usually, you operate with
fatigue cracking for bound materials and permanent deformation for unbound
materials. It is possible to have them both switched off in case it is not desirable to
have these materials properties influencing the design calculations.

Hatch. Select a pattern to be associated with this material. Click on the pattern to
open a window for the possible selections.

Min. and Max Modulus. This input can be used to force the backcalculation to
produce moduli results within the given range. Be aware that this will influence
the moduli calculated for the remaining layers as well.

Fatigue Cracking and Permanent Deformation

These two tabs are enabled depending on the choice for using Fatigue Cracking
relations or Permanent Deformation relations in the checkboxes above the tabs.

46
In the relation N is the traffic and E the modulus of the material. The constants A,
B, C and Eo can following be modified in the fields below the equation

If the constants reflect a known criteria, then the name of the criteria is shown
below the constants. If desired, another criteria can be selected from this
dropdown box, which is prefilled with various criterias developed and used in
various regions. The list of items in the dropdown box depends on the choice for
using fatigue relations or permanent deformations and the choice for using strain
or stress dependency.

It is possible (but not necessary) to assign a name to a user specified criteria. Enter
the desired constants in the input fields, and the name will change to Unknown
criteria. Write the name of the criteria in the drop down field and press Add to
list.

The list is global and does not belong to the specific parameter setup. This means
changes in the standard list of criterias will be accessible from all projects and
parameter setups. Changing the contents of the lists will not affect any design
results or parameter setups. Only the values in the white input fields are saved
with the setup.

On the Fatigue Cracking tab you can select if Longitudinal or Transversal

responses should be used in the criteria. The longitudinal responses are the most
critical.

Define the materials Design life. The design life together with the yearly amount
of traffic determines the number of axle passages in the criteria functions. Notice
that the required design life with respect to different types of deterioration (as well
as for different types of materials) may be different.

By clicking View the relation will be shown graphically.

Temperature dependency
This tab is enabled if the checkbox Temperature dependent is checked.

47
Temperature dependency is usually used with bitumen bound materials and allows
the asphalt modulus to be corrected to a reference temperature. This is important
to do before any design because the temperature usually varies a lot over the day
and over the year, and because the stiffness of the bitumen is very sensitive to the
temperature.

The design procedure first converts the asphalt modulus from asphalt temperature
recorded during testing to the modulus at the reference temperature as entered in
the Ref. Temperature input field. Then this modulus at reference temperature is
used to calculate the seasonal moduli, according to the temperature given for each
season.

On this tab you can choose between 3 methods for temperature correction:

Factors
This will refer to a table created, which assigns a factor to each temperature in the
temperature range. In the dropdown box you can select which table should apply
to the current material. To create and edit these tables see the Elmod 6 built-in
help.

Semilogarithmic
If the dependency can be fitted to a logarithmic relation, you have possibility to
define the equation:

Notice that the range for which the equations is valid must be positive. When
temperatures exceed the range Elmod will use the from or to value to calculate
the correction factor.

Exponential
If the dependency can be fitted to an exponential relation, you have possibility to
define the equation:

When temperatures exceed the range Elmod will use the from or to value to
calculate the correction factor.

48
View. Clicking this button brings up a window with a graphic presentation of the
temperature-modulus correction.

Seasonal Temperatures or Seasonal Factors

If the material has been defined to be temperature dependant you can set the
seasonal temperatures:

The purpose is to define each seasons design temperature. The seasonal design
temperature should be fitted to a value that will result in a damage representing
the average over the season.

The seasonal temperatures can either be set manually or calculated by a sinusoidal

relationship between time over year and asphalt temperature.

If the material has not been defined to be temperature dependant you can set the
seasonal factors:

For materials that are not temperature sensitive the Elmod 6 user has the
opportunity to consider the (probable) springtime or wet season weakening of any,
or all, of the unbound layers in the pavement section.

49
The purpose of the facility is then to determine the factor used for each season. A
factor of 1 will be the reference condition, and the seasonal modulus of each
season is then calculated as the seasonal factor multiplied with the modulus at the
reference condition. The modulus at reference condition is calculated first as the
backcalculated modulus divided by the factor belonging to the week where the
FWD measurement took place. Interpolation between the factors entered for the
seasons and the characteristic weeks will determine the factor belonging to the
week of FWD testing.

As an alternative to enter the factors manually, they can be set according to either
a sinusoidal or an exponential relation

View. Clicking this button brings up a window with a graphic presentation of the
temperature-modulus correction.

14.3 Vehicles and Wheels

The design traffic and load characteristics are defined on the tabs Vehicles and
Wheels.

In the design procedures Elmod will include all defined vehicles, and for each
vehicle Elmod will include the wheels specified on the Vehicle tab. It is possible
to define a traffic mix of up to 24 vehicle types including a total of up 100 wheel
types.

Often ESALs is used to characterize the design traffic. In this case only 1 vehicle
including 1 standard wheel is going to be used. However, it is preferable to use
the best approximation to the real traffic mix of loads, as the derivation of the
equivalent standard loads depends on the design criteria (transfer functions), and
may be different for different layers.

50
In the list to the left, you will see those vehicles that are included. You can add a
new vehicle by clicking Create new vehicle. If the option Copy current is
chosen you will be asked for a name of the new vehicle, and this will be created
with a copy of the data for the current one. Creating a new vehicle this way will
not influence the choices for selecting wheels. The list of available wheels will be
the same, and if you need to attach a wheel which is not in the list of wheels on
the Wheel tab, you will have to shift to this tab and add a new wheel.

If you define a new aircraft, you have the possibility to retrieve all necessary
information from the aircraft database. Select the option Aircraft list and click
Create new vehicle. This opens a window for selecting the aircraft. Select one
and click OK. Elmod will now load the information required in both the Vehicle
tab and the Wheel tab.

Click Delete current vehicle to remove this from the list of vehicles. No changes
will happen to the list of wheels on the Wheel tab.

The example above shows input value for operating with an ESAL as design load.

Pass to coverage or normal distribution defines which method should be used to

reduce the traffic numbers due to the lateral distribution of loads. For roads the
reduction is usually not considered, meaning all wheels loads are in the same line.
In this case select Pass to coverage and on the Wheels tab, set the factors to 1.

For evaluation of Airport pavements the lateral distribution of the aircraft loads
will be important. This may be considered by entering Pass to coverage ratios for
rigid and flexible pavements, or by using a normal distribution of the aircraft
loads. In this case the imported wheel base is used, whereas the user must provide
a value for the standard deviation of the lateral position of the particular aircraft
at the facility to be evaluated. A default value is provided by the program, but the
actual lateral wander will vary considerably, for example between a runway and a
taxiway. When a normal distribution is used for the overlay design, the stresses
and strains will be calculated at one line, given by the offset from the centerline
(input in the Overlay Design screen) with the wheel at 10 points of the normal
distribution, each with a probability of occurrence relating to normal distribution
of the traffic. The damage at the offset line is summed using Miners law.

Vehicle name. This replicates the highlighted name from the list box. It is not
possible to change the name due to reference conflicts. Alternatively, you can
create a new vehicle with the desired name, and delete the existing vehicle.

Total weight is the complete mass to be distributed over the axles and wheels. In
case of ESALs it should be the weight corresponding to the definition of the
ESAL.

Dynamic Ratio defines a factor to be multiplied on the load. A factor of 1.2

means the load will be increased by 20 % for design purposes.

51
Standard deviation relates to the lateral normal distribution of traffic as
described above.

Wheel name. Here you enter each axle or wheel belonging to the vehicle, and for
which responses should be calculated in the design procedure. Clicking in the
input fields brings up the selection of defined wheels from the Wheels tab. This
means the selection of wheels must be defined on the Wheels tab before you can
connect them to a vehicle.

% of load indicates how big part of the total weight applies to the wheel (or set of
wheels). Usually you have a set of wheels on the axles symmetrical positioned to
the center line of the vehicle. The percentage of load should then apply to the total
load of both sets of wheels. On the Wheels tab you can see exactly how many
wheels are included in the definition. Load on each tire if further calculated to the
right of the input field, to avoid any misunderstandings.

In the list to the left you can see the defined wheels. Only wheels that are referred
to from the Vehicle tab are included in the design.

Select the wheel in the list for which you want to see or to edit properties. You
can create a new wheel as a copy of the current by clicking Create new wheel.
You will be asked for a name of the wheel, which must be unique for the setup.
Click Delete current wheel to remove a wheel from list. You cannot delete a
wheel if it is referred to from the Vehicle tab.

Wheel name. This replicates the highlighted name from the list box. It is not
possible to change the name due to reference conflicts. Alternatively you can
create a new wheel with the desired name, and delete the existing wheel.

Pass to coverage defines the factors to be used for respectively flexible and rigid
pavements. For aircraft setups where data from the aircraft database are included,

52
 it is recommended to use the normal distribution option (see above). If you use
the Pass to coverage values in this case, you must be aware that these only apply
to the critical gear. For the other gears which may be defined, the fields should be
left blank.

Centerline wheel. Check the field if there is no symmetrical positioned wheel

(like the nose wheel for an aircraft). You will see on the graphics exactly how it is
defined.

Wheel Configuration. You can select between 6 configurations of tires making

up the complete wheel or gear. The graphics will show the outline of each.

Tire pressure. Enter the tire pressure for the wheel.

Wheel distance. Enter the distance between the centerlines of dual wheel
configurations.

Axle distance. Enter the distance between the axles for tandem and tridem wheel
configurations.

Tread. This defines the distance between the wheel sets positioned symmetrically
to the center line. This is used together with Offset to calculate the distance
between the each line of traffic from the normal distribution and to the line for
which responses are calculated. Se more about using Normal distribution above
and the offset value entered in the Overlay Design window.

Below is an input example for a setup with a fleet mix of four aircrafts:

And on top of next page, the related Wheel tab information:

53
15. FEM/LET/MET
This option is only available if a license has been issued by Dynatest.
This option cannot be used with jointed pavements.
With this option backcalculation may be carried out either with the Finite
Element Method (FEM), Linear Elastic Theory (LET) or the Method of
Equivalent Thickness (MET).

FEM makes use of a modified version of an axial symmetric finite element

program, originally developed by Wilson at University of California (Duncan et
al., 1968). LET makes use of the Waterways Experiment Stations program
(WESLEA) and MET is similar to the method used in the Elmod option "Basin
fit", but with a simpler use of adjustment factors. Where Elmod applies
adjustment factors directly on the calculated responses, MET makes use of the
traditional Odemark adjustment factors directly on the layer thicknesses. The
moduli backcalculated by the two methods may, therefore, be different.
It is important to notice that this option is for backcalculation only, not for
calculation of remaining life or overlay design. The moduli calculated with this
option are for the test conditions, without any adjustment for temperature or
seasonal effects. Therefore, temperatures are not checked. The program may,
however, be used to calculate the stresses and strains under a single load. If all the
points of a section are evaluated using the Fit all points option, the moduli will be
stored in the database and can be used for calculation of remaining life and needed
overlay design in Elmod.
When the option FEM/LET/MET is selected on the Estimating Moduli screen,
the main input and output screen is shown, for example as in Figure 1. The default

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data shown on this screen refers to the first drop and the first section selected on
the Moduli screen in Elmod. The chainage will be from the lowest to the highest
value for the first section, and the two numbers in the From drop and the to input
boxes at the top of the screen will both be equal to the first drop number selected
on the Moduli screen. Both chainage and drop numbers may be changed by the
user. If, for example, the From drop value is changed to 1, then the FWD test
data used will be the average values for all of the drops 1 to 4.
When opening this option, the test data corresponding to the first chainage and the
first drop number will automatically be imported. The contact stress is shown in a
text box as is the radius of the loaded area (Plate radius). For backcalculation none
of these values should be changed. For forward calculation of pavement response,
different values of contact stress, radius of loaded area and an offset distance
input, which can be set in Options, may be entered.
The measured deflections are shown in a column next to the column giving the
distances to the geophones. In Figure 1 a deflection of 640.0 is measured at the
center geophone (distance 0). In SI units deflections are in m, distances in mm
and moduli are in MPa. The contact stress is in MPa, but output stresses
(response) are in kPa and output strains are in strain. The corresponding US units
are: deflections in mil, distances in inch and moduli in ksi. Contact stress is ksi,
but output stress is psi.
The layer thicknesses are those corresponding to the section and the moduli are
the default values entered in the Structures form (in Elmod), next to the
thicknesses. If no default moduli have been entered in Elmod, the program will
suggest some values. Poissons ratio is 0.35 for all layers, as a default, but may be
changed. Default values are also used for the minimum (Emin) and maximum
modulus (Emax), of each layer.

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 Figure 1

The column with the heading n indicates the non-linearity of the materials. With
FEM all layers may be non-linear, with LET none of the layers and with MET
only the subgrade may be non-linear. With a negative non-linearity (n is negative,
cohesive materials), n will be the exponent in the relationship:

where C is a constant equal to the value in the E column,

1 is the major principal stress, and
p is atmospheric pressure.
With FEM the vertical stress, z, may be used instead of 1, by checking the Use
zigz with FEM box on the Options screen.
With a positive non-linearity (granular materials), n is the exponent of:

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Where is the hydrostatic stress (mean normal stress or first stress invariant, 1/3
times the bulk stress).
The deflections may be calculated by pressing the command buttons: FEM, LET
or MET. Before FEM can be used, however, the finite element mesh has to be set
up. This may be done by pressing the command button Generate FEM mesh
with, where the number of columns and rows is given in the text box. A
maximum of 100100 columns and rows may be used. The program suggests a
distance to the outermost node. This may be selected or overwritten. If no mesh is
generated, the program will create a mesh based on default values.

The mesh is saved in the active Microsoft Access database in the tables "Column"
and "Row". The default mesh may be edited in the database.

Backcalculation
The layer moduli, the non-linearity and the depth to bedrock may be varied in the
backcalculation. The checkbox next to the parameter determines whether a
parameter is varied or kept constant. In Figure 1, for example, the moduli of the
three layers are all varied, whereas the non-linearities are kept constant (equal to 0
for the first two layers and -0.01 for the third). In this example no thickness has
been entered for the subgrade which is, therefore, treated as semi-infinite. With
LET all layers are treated as linear elastic and with MET only the subgrade may
be non-linear, as mentioned above. With FEM the depth to bedrock will not be
varied.
The option buttons below FEM, LET or MET are used to select the
backcalculation method.

Fit point
This option will calculate the moduli for only the current point, and the results
will not be saved. This option can be used for manually calibrating the seed values
and the backcalculation method.

Fit and save all points

This option will calculate all points for the section and save the results.

Save point
This will save results for the current point only. The idea is to use this after a
calculation for all points to adjust the results for one or few single points. This

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could be by changing seed moduli or adjusting layer thicknesses. The procedure is
following to select the point, use the Fit point option and click Save point.

Note following:

- You can only save single point results after you have made a full analysis
for the section, using any backcalculation routine from FEM/LET/MET or
deflection basin fitting from the core module.
- You cannot change number of layers in the analysis.
- You may change thickness of layers. This will be recognized in the design
and also be listed correctly in exports and reports from the PLOT program.
It will not change the structural input as defined, so thickness plot in the
PLOT features will not reflect the change, as well as thickness is reset next
time you open FEM/LET/MET module.

In the example in Figure 3, Linear Elastic Theory was chosen. The resulting
calculated deflections are shown in the column under LET. The deflections are
also shown in an output grid which may be activated by selecting Show
Details, see figure 4. Here the deflections are shown at the top of each layer in the
structure. The two output lines at the bottom of the grid show the difference
between the measured and calculated deflections, first the percentage difference
({calculated-measured}/measured * 100%) and then the absolute difference
(calculated-measured), in m for SI units and mil with US units. As a default, the
program will attempt to minimize the Root Mean Square (RMS) of the absolute
difference. The check box minimize % in Figure 3 may be used to minimize with
respect to relative difference (percentage).

Figure 3 - Example of backcalculation using LET

The two text boxes at the top of the figure next to RMS show of the Root Mean
Square (RMS) difference as absolute difference (abs) and percentage difference
(%). In the example the absolute RMS was 4.04 m and the percentage was 1.80.
It may be noticed that the modulus of layer two is lower than the modulus of the
subgrade, a frequent problem when the subgrade is assumed to be linear elastic.

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 Figure 4 - Details of deflections

Plotting deflections and surface moduli

Select Show Graph to plot the deflections and the surface moduli, for
measured as well as for calculated values.
In the figure below, moduli have also been calculated with MET, assuming a non-
linear elastic subgrade. The results from MET are compared to those from LET
below:

Layer Modulus LET Modulus MET

1 2147 1858
2 119 175
3 127 112

With MET the subgrade was non-linear n = -0.02. The modulus at the top of the
subgrade, corresponding to the FWD load, is not shown during back-calculation
but can be obtained by selecting Show Responses

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 Plot of measured, LET and MET values

The response is given for each interface and each layer. The top line is for
interface number 1 and layer number 1 (1/1), the next line for interface number 1
and layer number 2 (1/2), etc.

Response under FWD load

The tangential stress (zigt), the radial stress (zigr) and the vertical stress (zigz) are
given followed by the corresponding strains. The last column is the modulus at the
position where stresses and strains are calculated. For a non-linear subgrade it
may be recalled that the modulus to be used for calculation of deflections is
approximately (1-2n) times the modulus used for strain.

Additional controls
A number of additional input boxes may be used to control the backcalculation.
The input box Use first may be used to limit the number of geophones used for the
backcalculation. Sometimes, particularly on weak pavements, the deflections
recorded by the outer geophones are judged to be unreasonable, and it may be

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preferable to leave them out. If for example only the first five geophones were to
be used, the number 5 would be entered in the Use first input box.
The menu Calibrate is used to calibrate FEM and MET against LET, which
provides the mathematical exact solution for a layered linear elastic system. First,
the response is calculated using LET (with an appropriate subgrade modulus if the
subgrade is non-linear). Then FEM is used on the linear elastic case and
appropriate calibration factors are determined to get the same response as with
LET. Then FEM is used on the non-linear case and with the calibration factors to
determine the response in the linear case and finally, MET is used on the non-
linear case and the calibration factors needed for MET to give the same response
as FEM are determined.
Pressing the button Fit point will result in a basin fit with the method selected
(FEM, LET or MET), but the results will not be stored in the database. To store
results in the database the button Fit all points must be used. This will process all
of the data points within the given chainage range. Similar for responses. It is
normally advisable to manually modify the moduli until a reasonably good
agreement is obtained between measured and calculated deflections and then store
these values as seed values using the Save seed values button.
When FEM is used the results of the last iteration are stored in the tables
"Displacements" and "Stress" in the database.
When a new test point is selected with Select point the thicknesses and moduli
are refreshed with the seed values.
More options are available from the Options menu:

If a value (integer) is entered in Alternate, field optimization of the RMS

differences will be attempted for the number of times entered here. If 1 is entered,
the program will first minimize with respect to the absolute difference and will
then use the resulting parameters (moduli, non-linearity or depth to bedrock) as

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seed values for a minimization with respect to relative difference (%), and finally
redo the absolute minimization starting from the results of the relative.
MET will use a standard set of adjustment factors, unless a value is given for the
adjustment factor, in which case this will be used for all layers.
If a value is given for the Ei/Ei+1 (the ratio of two consecutive moduli), the
equivalent thickness will not be calculated if the ratio is less than this value.
Below this ratio, the actual layer thickness is used directly. This is used only with
MET
The input for Factor on E1 for response is not used for backcalculation, but only
for calculation of response. In calculating the response, the modulus of the first
layer will be multiplied by the value entered here. This allows, for example, for a
lower asphalt modulus under a slow moving rolling wheel load than under the
FWD impact load.
MET will as default use a point load for calculation of response off the centerline
of the load, unless the box for adjusting for point load is checked.
The number of iterations used by the Finite Element Method is set in an input
box, and a checkbox use zigz with FEM may be used to let the modulus be
calculated based on the vertical stress rather than on the major principal stress.
The value given in the Search width input box controls how much the parameters
are varied. A large value will search with larger steps.
Use tail for C and n seeds calculates seed values for these based on the
deflections from the outer-most geophones.

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15.1 FEM Plot
The results of the last Finite Element calculation may be plotted with FEMplot.

The types of response that may be plotted are given in the list of options in the
upper left hand corner. Stress is in kPa or psi and strain is in strain.
Initially, the central part of the mesh is plotted, but you may zoom in or out by
using the "In" or "Out" command buttons.
The loading plate is indicated as a grey rectangle and the layer interfaces by white
lines.
The initial plot uses a scale from the "maximum" to the "minimum" value found
in the calculation. "Maximum" should be interpreted as worst and will be the
highest negative value for example for the tangential strain. The scale may be
changed by manually entering the maximum and minimum values.
When clicking a point within the mesh area, the coordinates of the midpoint of the
closest cell are shown as well as the response in that cell. The position of the
cursor arrow within the mesh is given in textboxes next to R and Z and a textbox
next to the Z textbox (not shown in the figures) gives the value of the response at
the present cursor position.
The figure below has been zoomed in on the shear stress and the bold line above
the graph indicates that the shear stress at a radial distance of 144.5 mm and a
depth of 45.8 mm is 312.4 kPa.

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15.2 Edit Mesh
When a mesh has been generated, the positions of rows and columns may be
changed, new rows and columns may be inserted or rows and columns may be
deleted. There must be an equal number of rows and columns, so if for example a
row is deleted, a column must also be deleted.

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Columns that correspond to the plate radius or a geophone distance and rows that
correspond to a layer interface cannot be edited.
When entering "Edit mesh", about half of the mesh is shown. It is possible to
zoom in or out on the mesh by pressing the command buttons "In" and "Out"
respectively.
To work with columns, the option "Column" at the top of the screen should be
chosen. "Row" is to the left of the screen.
Moving, inserting or deleting is selected from the options in the upper left corner.
If "Column" and "Move" are selected, for example, left clicking within the mesh
area will select the closest (editable) column and turn it green. Releasing the left
button will move the column to the position of the cursor. If the cursor is moved
to another position within the mesh area, while the left button is pressed and
released, the column will be moved to this position. The textboxes R and Z keep
track of the cursors position within the mesh.
If you accidentally activate a column and do not want to move it, then move the
cursor out of the mesh area before releasing the left button.
It is also possible to move the column to a position indicated in the R textbox. To
do this, activate the column you want to move by clicking the left button close to
the column, then move the cursor outside of the mesh area before releasing the
left button and input the radial distance to which you want to move the column in
the R text box. Then press "Move to".
If "Row" and "Insert" are selected, left clicking within the mesh area releasing the
left button will insert a row at the position where the left button was released. To
avoid inserting a row, move the cursor outside of the mesh area before releasing
the left button.
After inserting a row, a column must be inserted as well.
The mesh cannot have more than 100100 rows and columns.
When deleting a row or column, a message box is first shown, asking you to
confirm that you want to delete the row or column. After deleting a row, a column
must be deleted as well.

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16. PCN
This option is only available if a license has been issued by Dynatest.
PCN calculations can be run whenever backcalculations have been carried out for
the data file. Results from the PCN calculations can be viewed and compared to
ACN values using the Plot features.
Elmod provides two different procedures for estimating PCN values. The
recommended procedure is referred to as the PCN/ACN Using Fleet Mix
method, which considers the damaging effect of each aircraft type and related
traffic volume, and utilizes the material models as defined with normal
mechanistic design. It is still possible to use the old conventional method, referred
to as PCN/ACN Using Unrestricted Traffic. For information about this method
please refer to the Elmod6 built-in Help.

PCN calculations are activated from the Overlay Design window:

66
 To have the PCN values according to the Fleet Mix method reported, just check
the Include PCN check box. Design and PCN calculations will begin when
clicking the Start Design button. Be aware of the same parameter setup is used
for both design and PCN. This also include the setup for using Pass to Coverage
or Normal Distribution of traffic (see more about this in Overlay Design). The
old parameter setups SI_PCN-Rigid and SI_PCN-Flex are only to be used with
the old method using Unrestricted Traffic.

The PCN results can be viewed graphically and in tables from the Plot menu.
They are reported per point, and it may happen that subgrade categories or critical
aircraft can differ from point to point. In these cases you may want to do a PCN
calculation forcing a fixed value for subgrade category and/or critical aircraft.
You have following the option to repeat the calculation and select fixed value in
the Fix subgrade category and Fix critical aircraft drop down boxes.

If PCN should be calculated according to the old method using unrestricted usage,
click the Use Old Method button. In this case there will be no design
calculations, but a new window will open for defining input to the calculations.

17. LCCA Life Cycle Cost Analysis

This option is only available if a license has been issued by Dynatest.
Select LCCA from the Elmod Main menu to access the LCCA module:

Open an existing LCCA database

If an Elmod project has not been opened yet, or if no E-values have been
calculated for the file, only this option is available. Select this if you want to view
an existing LCCA database with the LCCA module. When clicking the OK
button, you will get a file browser to locate your LCCA database.

Transfer data to an existing LCCA database

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 With this option you will select an existing LCCA database and then following
have access to export new data to the database. When clicking the OK button, you
will get a file browser to locate the LCCA database, and afterwards you will get
the window to define the export.

Transfer data to a new LCCA database

Use this option to create a new, empty LCCA database. Select Roads or Airports
depending on the origin of data you wish to transfer. Your selection will define if
LCCA will run with the interface for roads or the interface for airport sections.
You should never mix sections from roads and airports in the same database.

The template for the new LCCA database can either be the default template
coming with the installation, or the template could be extracted from an existing
LCCA project. If you select to extract from an existing project, the template will
contain the parameter setups you have already defined, the traffic definitions and
other global settings.

If you have selected to create template from an existing project, first you will have
a file browser to locate the LCCA database. Then you will have the option to
select name and destination of the new LCCA database. When this is defined, you
will get the window to define the export.
If you have selected to create a new database the window will look like this:

In the grid you will see the actual sections you have defined for the file and the number
of layers is filled in for each section. For each section you want to transfer, you must
fill in the white empty "Layer" fields with material types if they are not already filled
in with information entered in the Structures window. You can do this by clicking
inside the empty field and a list with the materials will pop up, from which you select
which material type should be inserted.

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 The list of materials you can select comes from the Elmod parameter setup you are
using. You can select this setup from the combo list box to the left in the window. So
remember to select the correct Elmod parameter setup, before filling in materials. In
the example above you see a grid with data filled in.
Remember to click in the column Chosen for the sections that should be included in
the LCCA database. When you fill in layer materials for several sections, you can
often make the job a little easier by using the button Copy first structure. This will
copy your entrances for the first line to the other sections.
In the LCCA Parameter Setup combo list box, you have the list of setups currently
available in the LCCA database. When you are creating a new LCCA database the list
will be from the template database. From the LCCA module you have the possibility
of creating new template parameter setups, which can be selected when creating new
LCCA databases.
Below the combo list box in the Copy to new name field you can enter a name for a
new parameter setup to be created. If you leave it blank, Elmod will write the new
information to the setup chosen in the combo list box, overwriting any existing
information. Otherwise, if you enter a name, then Elmod will create a new setup based
on the selected LCCA setup and the information transferred from Elmod parameter
setup.
In the field Total traffic per year you must enter the total number of axle passages for
the loads defined in the Elmod parameter setup. When transferred, the number will be
recalculated to passages per day for each load type.
Finally, in the Transfer frame, you can select which information to transfer. Section
data contain the section values including the representative elastic moduli, calculated
from the current backcalculation results. Checking Parameter setup will let Elmod
transfer material properties and seasonal information to the LCCA parameter setup.
The load information from the Elmod parameter file will always be used for
calculation of traffic per load type. For this reason it is necessary always to select the
correct Elmod parameter setup, even if you have chosen not to transfer parameter data.

If you have selected to transfer data to an existing LCCA database, the data transfer
window will look slightly different:

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As default the transfer of Parameter setup has been unchecked, because usually
you would already have created a valid LCCA parameter setup you want to use.
Below the Elmod sections you will see a new grid with the sections created earlier
in the LCCA database.
You now have the possibility of either creating new sections or to transfer section
data to existing sections. If you check Write to existing sections you must then
define the link between the Elmod sections and the destination LCCA sections as
listed in the grid at the bottom. You do this by filling in SecID values in the
column Link to. When you click a field in this column you can select the SecID
number from a list. You cannot mix writing to existing sections and writing to
new sections in one operation.
If you have checked Keep existing materials then Elmod will automatically fill
in the layer materials from the information in the LCCA database, otherwise the
materials used in Elmod will be transferred. Please be careful when exporting to
existing databases that there is a match between the material names defined in the
LCCA database and the material names used in Elmod.
When writing to existing databases, you will not have possibility to transfer traffic
data. This is to avoid conflicts between the load definitions in the Elmod
parameter setup and the traffic definitions in the LCCA database. It is for this
reason important that you, after creating new sections in an existing LCCA
database, update the traffic information for the sections in the LCCA module.

Below is an example of information filled in for writing to an existing LCCA

database. In this case only information for the first 3 sections is transferred, and
only new elastic moduli will be transferred.

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When linking to existing sections the pavement information will be added to the
existing information, in case the year of FWD testing is different from the year of
pavement structure data in the LCCA database.

When Selecting Start LCCA the data transfer will take place and the LCCA
interface will open. Please refer to the Elmod6 built-in Help for guides in using
the LCCA module.

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