Simplified Analysis Methods of Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) and Falling Weight Deflector (FWD) Data for Effective Pavement Preservation Program

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) uses a variety of methods to assess pavement conditions in order to recommend and program pavement treatments. The falling weight deflectometer (FWD) is non-destructive tool the department has used at the project planning level to measure the structural capacity and stiffness of pavements. In addition, in recent years the department has obtained pavement structural condition data from the Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) for approximately 3,500 miles of roadway for network level planning. The deflection basins recorded by the FWD and TSD differ due to the difference in the operating conditions of the two devices. The FWD is a stationary device while the TSD measures the deflection under a continuously moving load. The purpose of this study is to conduct a thorough analysis of the collected TSD and FWD deflection data to evaluate and develop simplified deflection indices that can be used to assess the pavement structural conditions and determine the remaining service life of flexible pavements at the network level. The simplified deflection indices will be evaluated, developed, and calibrated based on Idaho conditions. It is anticipated that the indices developed through the research will be used by staff in selecting effective pavement preservation treatments. The objectives of this project include: (1) Evaluating, developing, validating, and calibrating various techniques and models used to analyze the TSD and FWD data to determine the structural capacity and remaining service life. This objective shall focus on the use of a simple methodology that can be used to assist in qualifying the recommended treatments. (2) Developing an Excel-based utility that can utilize the deflection data and other information (e.g., traffic, layer thickness) and calculate the structural capacity and remaining service life of flexible pavements. (3) Developing/documenting a methodology on the use of TSD Data to develop a systematic method/process by which ITD could plan FWD collection.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $160000
• Contract Numbers:

  RP 294

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Idaho Transportation Department

  P.O. Box 7129, 3311 West State Street
  Boise, ID  United States  83707-1129
• Project Managers:

  Poorbaugh, James

• Performing Organizations:

  National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology

  University of Idaho, Moscow
  115 Engineering Physics Building
  Moscow, ID  United States  83844-0901
• Principal Investigators:

  Kassem, Emad

• Start Date: 20200901
• Expected Completion Date: 20220831
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calibration; Data analysis; Deflection; Deflectometers; Methodology; Pavement maintenance; Service life; Traffic speed; Validation
• Geographic Terms: Idaho
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01759920
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Idaho Transportation Department
• Contract Numbers: RP 294
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 11 2020 10:35AM