46.

5 Deflectometer test
COMMENTARY ON 46.5
The deflectometer test or falling weight deflectometer (FWD) is a testing device
used to evaluate the physical properties of pavement. FWD data is primarily used to
estimate pavement structural capacity for use in (but is not limited to) highways,
local roads, airport pavements, and railway tracks. The machine is usually contained
within a trailer that can be either towed to a location by another vehicle or, when
used on railway tracks, placed on a hand trolley and pushed to the location.
The FWD is designed to impart a load pulse to the pavement surface which simulates
the load produced by a rolling vehicle wheel. The load is produced by dropping a
large weight onto a circular load plate - typically 300 mm diameter. A load cell
mounted on top of the load plate measures the load imparted to the pavement
surface. The load plate can be solid or segmented. The advantage of a segmented
load plate is that it adopts to the shape of the pavement, giving an even
distribution of the load on uneven surfaces.
Deflection sensors (geophones; force-balance seismometers) mounted radially from
the centre of the load plate measure the deformation of the pavement in response
to the load. Some typical offsets are 0 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm, 450 mm, 600 mm,
900 mm, 1 200 mm, 1 500 mm. The deflections measured at these sensors are termed
DO, D200, D300, etc.
FWD data is most often used to calculate stiffness-related parameters of a pavement
structure. This process is computationally intensive although quick on modern
computers. It can give quite misleading results and requires an experienced analyst.
Instead, many analysts use simplified methods to calculate related parameters that
are empirical in nature.
A light weight deflectometer (LWD) is a portable falling weight deflectometer. It is
used primarily to test inset base and subgrade moduli during construction. Light
weight deflectometers (LWD) are quicker than the isotope measuring method and
requires no reference measurements. The equipment can be operated by one
operator, allowing for the analysis of collected data and printing out of data files on
site.
A heavy weight deflectometer (HWD) is a falling weight deflectometer that uses
higher loads, used primarily for testing airport pavements.
A rolling weight deflectometer (RWD) is a deflectometer that can gather data at a
much higher speed (as high as 55 mph) than the FWD. It is a specially designed
tractor-trailer with laser measuring devices mounted on a beam under the trailer.
Another advantage of the RWD over the FWD is that it can gather continuous
deflection data as opposed to discrete deflection data collected by the FWD. RWD
development has been carried out independently by Applied Research Associates
(ARA) since 2005 and KUAB Sweden since 1991.
The deflectometer test should be carried out and the data processed following
the guidance given by the Highways Agency or in the manufacturer's literature.
The correlations adopted should be appropriate to the method used for the test
but even so the results should be treated with caution.