A brief review of BakFAA The FAA’s pavement backcalculation software Fundamentals, graphic user interface description and a simple example. By: Luis R. Vasquez-Varela Associated Professor at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Manizales rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () aIntroduction = BakFAA is a backcalculation software developed by the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States of America for the analysis of in-service airport pavements. * It is based in the LEAF algorithm for the solution of multilayered linear elastic systems. * This presentation covers the basics of its operation. rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 2Fundamentals rect calculation * The traffic, loads (wheel imprint, contact pressure), dimensions (layer thicknésses) and mechanical properties (Young’s moduli. an Poisson’s ratios) of the multilayered system are known. "The stress, strains and displacements are obtained in any points of interest. = There is a unique answer for each point. * It is the approach used in the calculation of allowable traction or compression strains for design, rsys0038 ee Back calculation The traffic loads and dimensions of the system are kaown, A group of surficial vertical displacements, known a8 a deflection basin, is measured. Through several manual or automatic iterations one try to find a set of Young’s moduli that matches the measured deflections, Poisson's ratios may be assumed. There are several numerical solutions. One has to choose wisely a valid set of moduli. Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 3Measuring deflections. * A deflection basin Is measured with a proper deflectometer. bs = For airports one must use a Heavy Weight Deflectometer (HWD) to achieve mechanical responses close to those associated with large airplanes, "The deflection basin is measured with an arrangement of geophones or accelerometers. = The thicknesses of the layers are measured in a direct way (pit, boreholes) or an indirect way {ground penetrating radar GPR). rsys0038 SN AHWO in operation. Retrieved in 2017-02-25 from: Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 ()BakFAA graphic user interface description. Defining the structure, the deflection basin a pavement surface Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 5 nd the deflectometer load over the rsys0038{In this section one can define the multilayered structure properties + Young’s modulus. + Poissonts ratio, + Interface condition between lavers (0: discontinuous; 1: continuous) + Thickness. ‘The software can manage up to 10, layers Todefine the last layer ofa structure cone defines its thickness as "0.00", In this section you enter the information regarding the postion of the FVD / HW sensors and the deflections measured in the fil. Inthe “Cale” section the program displays the calculated deflections for the current structure, rsys0038 @ st ait a Taner || [ Tischeatbone sas Sree) | rence eee cz “ont Sc during onli ecto a |) Got ial = 2 =o oe |= Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 ()Defining a structure = The program can manage up to ten layers. Each layer is characterized by: Layer Young's edulis PS! Poison's _nerface Thetness,in Layer ed Sandleaddldhasend Rssonrarail ner ato Parameter changeable Young's modulus and P i rae + An “interface parameter” which, is _@ numerical a) representation of the continuty of horizontal shear fess and normal and shear strains in the interraces Between layers ¥ Disa fll sp eterace and 1.0 is a fl frictional = feat exeaces re someting inbetween bt eoser | + Thickness. za, 3 0.00] 0.0000) =f 2] e0a|[ eo] [ vee] = The “Layer Changeable” checkboxes, allow the 9] 200] [—a0o] [om] program to change the modull in a backcalculation a) : ; process to match the measured deflection basin. 2 Z eh et) gon rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 7Defining a deflection basin... * In its basic mode the program allows up to seven sensors along the deflection basin. = However, if one imports the deflection data from a deflectometer, this section will show "the corresponding number of sensors. = In the “Defl” section one writes the measured! deflections. "In the “Calc” section the program shows the calculated deflections for the pavement structure under the defined loads (see next slide). = The calculated deflections change every time the program changes one or several modull of the layers in the backcalculation process. eta, i 3 = rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () ®Defining the load... " The FWD / HWD test equipment applies its load over’ a rigid plate in the pavement surface. Oo otetaceers * The plate radius is written in this box. eon Erte [[-ssecor —] [2son01—] + The usual size of the plate is 5.91 inches (150 millimeter). ae Ras, re pte Loot (ser ]L sae] = The plate load is written in this box. ___—Fiaton as, teraton = Noreer_— [eat Crara + To back-calculate modulus in highway Leromus [mene _] applications (FWD) the usual load is 9) ietiona pounds ~force (40 kN). san ar + In airport pavement evaluation the load may be woe |[__ es as heavier as shown (24,000 pounds - force). rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () °The command buttons. "There are several command buttons in the software. A. brief description is given here for those related to the backcalculation process! ry FAD Tp + “Load FWD File”: It reads @ file obtained from @ FWD o HWD device with © fra leis No Cee_tond measured deflections and loads to run 2 backcalculation process, + “Convert to PODX": It cgnerts deflection information read in several formats 10 the AASHTO's format “Pavement Deflection Osta ekenange™ + “oad Structure”: it spads a fle where one previously saved a set of modull, Poeson’svatios, interlace condtions and cknesses "ors particular structure + “Save structure”: It saves to disk a particular pavement structure. it does not include the measured dellection basin or load condition. Save Soe + "Backcalculate It starts the process of automatically changing modull in the Becta secure tovmateh the messures Sertecion basis Wah those Rerately Produced by the program, + “Stop Backcalculate”: A backealeulation process may start to diverge from 2 ratidhal result. This bufton allows ope to stop: the calculations take Corrective actions inthe “seed modulus” rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 10A simple example. Field information and BakFAA processing. rsys0038 LUIS RICARDO VASQUEZ VARELA, ho () aField data. "In a highway section the following information is obtained for a pavement rehabilitation study: + Deflection basin under a 9,000 pound - force load in a conventional FWD device. nn Es Measured deflection by ‘perwp(mi ” 1003 773 633 460 364 281 236 * The deflections are already adjusted to a reference temperature of 68°F (20°C) and a load of 9,000 pounds - force (40 kN). + The pavement section is composed by the following layers. Some fine fatigue linear Asphalt concrete 40 Se vERteae ‘Acrushed, dense graded Granular treated granular material treated base 200 with bituminous emulsion, = miinfinte TP ofthe earthworks Subgrede Seminfrite Ton of he cart * The thicknesses were obtained in a pit near the point of the FWD test. rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 2Data in BakFAA. rs are defined in BakFAA with “seed” = All the layers are allowed to change its jal) modulus and Poisson’s ratios based on modulus in the backcalculation procedure. iterate values = The asphalt layer description indicates that it | @/e###4-raxcrcaion 2000 mnlear const Layer Youngs Hoda, 2S! Poisons —_bleriace Tens, is still a bonded layer. When damage is high, this layer may behave as a granular material. sad aca [somo os] [ro] [a0] = Note that the third layer has a thickness of 0.0 __| = sewn 035] [v0] [ome] Inch. The program interprets this as the final = ales] a] | layer of the structure. re a La yo "All interfaces are continuous (interface parameter = 1.0). rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 2Data in BakFAA. terten—_evauaton = The deflection data is written in the proper Termes _ Bae fields ("Defin, mils”). [eco )[- aso + Remember: The _ temperature _and force carmen corrections in the FWD data hes already been done. [ser] [e000 at aa = Push the “Backcalculate” button to start the Ce ee process. sete mi [roma] 773] 8 a (Cone) Stop Backcalubste * The plate, load (9,000 pounds force) and plate eo] 61] zeif 225] radius (5.91 inches) are those for typical higt way applications, rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () “Results discussion 1. So a = A first attempt gives the following moduli after 241. aaa 8 area ‘automatic cycles: {= o a ace o + Asphal layer: 014.197 ps. : ace 8 + Granular base treated layer: 208,439 psi. a a + Subgrade: 14,704 ps. : cc ee * The graphical adustment of the measured end Calculated deflection basins is promising, however, the first layer’s modulus is extremely high, even for an in-service asphalt. layer that has’ suffered Bitumen aging. * {second analves Ig propased fing the asphalt layer modulus. in 500,000 psi with’ information Sans (ae obtained in.a complementary laboratory test over — asphalt core samples taken in the field, re rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 1sResults discussion 2, ¢ess=~ © The second attempt gives the following moduli |? —"=—r4 ism) Sa after Sé automatic Cycles : + Asphalt layer (fixed by user) $500,000 pst a * Granule base treated layer 285,424 ps : + subgrade: 14720 * Again, the graphical adjustment of the measured 2a Catcuated deflection boss ls very goods = The modulus of the second layer can be accepted as @ good or rational estimation of such layer’s Figlaity. = One must notice that the subgrade layer modulus changed very little in the two analysis (76 psi). rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 6iz ie Ie ae = The pavement structure used in this example was | « actually calculated. with a. forward calculation |[-* 4 — software known as KENPAVE (Huang, 2004). ies 3 = ™ The actual moduli were: 7 ae aan + Asphalt layer: 500 ks ono + Granular treated base: 300 ks. oe iol ro + Subgrade: Shs oon Lalas "A final run is done fixing the two first moduli, | BakFAA requires that at least. one layer is | i= changeable. i * After 10 iterations the subgrade modulus is nearer | wit tit to the 15 ksi value, but does not reach it. = rsys0038 Is RicaRDO VASQUEZ VARELA, 0 () 2