Implementation of Rolling Wheel Deflectometer (RWD) in PMS and Pavement Preservation

Final report; 2009-2011.PDFTech ReportFHWA/11.492LTRC project number: 09-2PSIO number: 30000143PavementsPavement management systemsPavement maintenanceDeflection testsFalling weight deflectometersLouisianaLouisiana Transportation Research CenterElseifi, MostafaAbdel-Khalek , Ahmed M.Dasari, KarthikLouisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.). Dept. of Civil and Environmental EngineeringLouisiana Transportation Research CenterLouisiana. Dept. of Transportation and DevelopmentUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATIONNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-MaterialsNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Pavement Management and PerformanceUS Transportation CollectionThe rolling wheel deflectometer (RWD) offers the benefit to measure pavement deflection without causing any traffic interruption or compromising safetyalong tested road segments. This study describes a detailed field evaluation of the RWD system in Louisiana in which 16 different test sites representing awide array of pavement conditions were tested. Measurements were used to assess the repeatability of RWD measurements, the effect of truck speeds, andto study the relationship between RWD and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) deflection measurements and pavement conditions. Based on the resultsof the experimental program, it was determined that the repeatability of RWD measurements was acceptable with an average coefficient of variation at alltest speeds of 15 percent. In addition, the influence of the testing speed on the measured deflections was minimal. The scattering and uniformity of theFWD and RWD data appears to closely follow the conditions of the roadway. Both test methods appear to properly reflect pavement conditions andstructural integrity of the road network by measuring a greater average deflection and scattering for sites in poor conditions. RWD deflectionmeasurements were in general agreement with FWD deflections measurements; however, the mean center deflections from RWD and FWD werestatistically different for 15 of the 16 sites.This study developed and validated a direct and simple model for determining the pavement structural number (SN) using RWD deflection data.To develop this model, the relationship between the average RWD surface deflection and the peak FWD deflection was investigated. The developed modelcorrelates a pavement\ue2\u20ac\u2122s SN to two RWD-measured properties (average RWD deflection and RWD index). The developed model was fitted to RWD datacollected in 16 road sections (each 1.5 miles), referred to as research sites, in Louisiana. The model was then validated based on FWD and RWD datacollected on 52 road sections in Louisiana. Results showed a good agreement between SN calculations obtained from FWD and RWD deflection testing.While the developed model is independent of the pavement thickness and layer properties, it provides promising results as an indicator of structuralintegrity of the pavement structure at the network level. The fitting statistics support the use of the proposed model as a screening tool for identifyingstructurally deficient pavements at the network level.Based on the RWD evaluation conducted in District 05, this study recommends extending the use of RWD to the other districts in Louisiana.The RWD index (RI) is recommended to be adopted on a provisional basis by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD)Pavement Management System (PMS) as a network structural analysis index with three categories: thin pavements less than 3 in. thick, medium pavementsbetween 3 to 6 in., and thick pavements greater than 6 in. It should be incorporated into the PMS system and placed on Geographic Information System(GIS) maps.The structural number equation should be considered valid and used as a tool to evaluate the structural condition of pavements for networkpurposes with similar categories as the RI. The PMS section will incorporate the SN values in their process using trigger values outlined in the report. Ifthe PMS section considers the new index to be of significant value, then another district will be assessed with the RWD