GRAPHICAL SOLUTIONS FOR BACK-CALCULATION OF RIGID PAVEMENT PARAMETERS By T. F. Fwa,' Member, ASCE, K. H. Tan, and S. Li? (Reviewed by the Highway Division) Apsrmacr: This technical note presents the graphical version ofthe solutions of a closed-form back-calcu- lation algorithm for two-layer rigid pavements. The development ofthe graphs and the theoretical basis forthe choice of analysis parameters for the graphical solutions are described. Graphs are developed for back-calculting the moduli of the pavement slab and the subgrade, based onthe common deflection measurement data obtainable from typical falling weight deflectomet tests, Two sets of graphs are presented, one for back-calculating the radius of relative stfiness, and the other for determining the deflection factor that relates pavement properties to surface defections. The graphical solutions are applicable for back-calculating the properties of rigid pave- ‘ments supported on either a liquid foundation er a solid foundation. INTRODUCTION CClosed:-form solutions are most desirable for back-caleula- tion analysis of pavement properties, as they give unique ‘answers and require less computer computation time. Two closed-form algorithms are currently available for back-cal- culation of parameters of two-layer rigid pavement; they are the ILLL-BACK (loannides et al. 1989) and the NUS-BACK (Li et al. 1996). The ILLL-BACK algorithm was adopted by the AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures (1993), in which graphical solutions are available for easy applica- tions. Compared to ILLI-BACK, NUS-BACK is a more gen- ‘eral and powerful tool for practical applications, and offers Statistically more reliable estimates of rigid pavement param- ‘eters (Li et al. 1996). Graphical solutions for NUS-BACK are presented in this technical note (o facilitate its applications DEVELOPMENT OF GRAPHICAL SOLUTIONS ‘The theoretical solutions of NUS-BACK for back-calculat- ing the layer moduli of a two-layer rigid pavement resting on 1a Winkler foundation (i. liquid foundation) or a solid elastic foundation have been published in an earlier work by the weit- ers (Li et a. 1996). This section describes the development of the graphical version of the solutions Graphical Back-Calculation of Radius of Relative Stiffness ‘The pavement slab modulus Z, and the modulus of subgrade reaction & for liquid foundation (or elastic modulus E, in the case of solid foundation) are the two unknowns. The NUS- BACK back-calculation analysis can be performed when sur- face deflections at two oF more points are available. Consider the simplest case where two deflection measurements Da and ‘Day at points 4 and j, respectively, are known, We have "Asse, Prof, Dept of Cv. Bagig, Nat Univ. of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent Singapore 119260, Republic of Singapore “Se Lect, Dep of Cis. Engg, Nat. Un of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge (Crescent Singapore 119260, Republic of Singapore. "Re, Scholar, Dept of Civ. Engrg. Nat. Uni of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260, Republic of Singspore. ‘Not. Discusion open unl July 1.1998. To extend the closing date cone month, a writen request ist be fled with the ASCE Manager of Soural The manuscript for this echnical note was submited for review ‘nd possible peliation on September 6, 1996. This technical ote Is prt Of the Journal of Transporation Engineering. Vol. 124, No.1. SanuaryfFebevary 1998, GASCE, ISSN 0733-947 9870001-0102-0108) ‘$100 5.50 per page, Techni! Note No. 14025, fortiistomeaton Den ZFC wn : = Es Fae) ® Pa =) for sos ounion Du= OED pyx) 0) sod aE FH ® where a = radon of loaded wea; P = mogainte of appliod Toad; k = modulus of subgrade reaction; E, = elastic modulus of subgrade; 41, = Poisson's ratio of subgrade; E, = last ‘modulus of pavement slab; hy = slab thickness: 7; and r, horizontal distances of points ‘and j, respectively, from center of loaded area; andl, and le = radii of relative sifness, defined Eee eat - wD] late) EGET «9 Ar) and Fr) are deflection factors given by -()(f) (2) (2) al ae . ‘The NUS-BACK algorithm determines , by solving (1) and @), and Ie by solving (3) and (4). To develop the graphical solutions the dimensionless deflection ratio (Dx/D) is chosen. a5 a problem parameter because this ratio is a function of J, (or I), and is independent of the other unknown modulus & poet, ine tris tention (22) = 27" 102 / JOURNAL OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING / JANUARYIFEBRUARY 100816 se on ‘Omj/Om (Ratio of Detlections measured by sensors i and) & (| i i 1 i t § & 5 5 = Dmy/Ony (Ratio of Deiecons measured by senses i and $56 § THAGHooEEDHoABAD Um) (Rous of Relative Sttoess) Gdgabnritwasditoy Um) (ads of Relative Stes) / w zo 7 j awe j ow Zo Eo zm i as I ts aso ss | ne | = sou FONoaTON i a ‘vow Founarion i = a i” E ww E ww Gdegswotsennaae sw im) (Radius of Relative Sitiness) FIG. 1. Graphical Solution for Back-Caloulating Radius of Rel- ative Sttineas of Rigid Pavement on Liquid Foundation io hago ribsaaiae w im) (Radius of Relative Sttiness) FIG. 2. Graphical Solution for Back-Calculating Radlue of Rel- tive Sttinese of Rigid Pavement on Solld Foundation When Day Day x Fp and the radius of loading a are known, the corresponding Value of i, or fy can be computed. Here, a is taken to be 150 mm, which is the dimension of the loading plate of practically all falling weight deflectometers available Commercially. Graphical solutions for f and le are developed ‘based on (9) and (10), and are presented in Fig. 1 for lig foundation and Fig. 2 for solid foundation. As the falling ‘weight deflectometers used in practice can provide up to seven JOURNAL OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING / JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1998 /109deflection measurements, 21 curves are ploted in each of the two figures to cover all the possible ratios of deflection meas- urements. These curves permit lor le to be determined directly ‘once two or more surface deflection measurements are avail- able. Graphical Back-Calculation of Deflection Factor ‘The back-calculation of the slab and subgrade moduli re- quires the determination of deflection factors Fy for liquid om. (Defector Factor ot Distance 6) oe 8 8 A Go Ex 7 a 3 = ‘SOuD_FouNDATION t t 1 1 1 1 1 ' Gas Greibkarrsay Um) (Radius of Relative Sttiness) FIG. 3, Graphical Solution for Determining Deflection Factor foundation and F, fo solid foundation. Eqs. (7) and (8) show that fra given point at distance r away from the loaded area, ©) and Fidr) ae dependent on and ly orl Since a is 130 mm for a typical falling weight defectometer, Fi) and Fa) an be determined based on the ly ol back-alculated from Fig. Yor Fig 2. Fig. 3 presents the graphical solutions for the deletion fac tors Fi(p) and F,(). The input information required is the ra. dius of relative stiffness (orl) andthe location ofthe de- Action point represented by 7, with its distance away from the center of the loaded area. There are seven curves in each of the two figures for seven postions of deflection sensors spaced at 300 mm (approximately 12 in.) intervals. These are the seven deflection measurement points provided by typical falling weight deflectometers available commercially PROCEDURE FOR BACK-CALCULATION ‘The input information available from a falling weight de- Aectometer test includes the magnitude of applied load, radius of loading plate, number and spacings of deflection sensors, and the measured deflections. The thickness of the pavement Slab, and the Poisson's ratios of both the pavement slab and the subgrade are assumed to be known. For the typical case where the radius of the loading plate is equal to 130 mm, the proposed graphical procedure is applicable, and the steps in volved in the back-calculation analysis are as follows: I. Select a deflection ratio (Dq/Dq), and use Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 as appropriate to obtain fy or le. 2. Using Fig. 3a) or Fig. (6) as appropriate, and the value of fy oF le determined from step 1, obtain F, or Fe for either r, (corresponding to Dy) oF 7, (comesponding 10 Dy). 3. Compute k from either (1) or (2), oF E, from either (3) or @). 4. Compute E, from (5) or (6), as appropriate Jn an ideal problem with exact deflection data involving no ‘measurement errors, the use of any pair of deflection meas- urements would yield the same answers. However, when measurement errors are involved, reliability analysis of the Computed results with different pairs of deflection data is de~ sirable, as recommended by the writers in their earlier paper (Liet al. 1996) CONCLUSIONS ‘This technical note has described the development of graph- ical solutions of the closed-form back-caleulation algorithm NUS-BACK, The availability of the graphical solutions offers ‘8 means for quick estimation of rigid pavement properties based on tio oF more deflection measurements by a falling weight deflectometer or by other appropriate types of surface deflection measuring equipment When deflection measure ‘ments at more than two points are available, the nature of the solutions also allows the procedure to be used as a useful tool for checking the relative reliability of the various sensors of the deflection measurement equipment. APPENDIX. REFERENCES AASHTO guide for design of pavement structures. (1983). Am. Assn of ‘State Hwy. and Transp. Oficial, Washington, DC. Toanties, AM Barenberg Jy and Lary, A. (1989) “ntrpretation ‘ot faling weight delectometer results unig principles of dimensional fnaysia™ Proc, 4h Im. Conf on Conerete Pavement Des and Re- abitation, 31-249 Lis. Pua F and Tan, K. H, (1996), “Clovedforn backcalulation ‘of rigid pavement parameters" J. Tran. Engrg. ASCE, 122(1), 5~ 104/ JOURNAL OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING / JANUARYIFEBRUARY 1998