Establishing Applicability of TSD Measurements for Rigid Pavement Assessment

The Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) offers significant advantages over traditional pavement evaluation methods like the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) by enabling continuous, rapid assessment at traffic speeds, measuring deflection velocity profiles as opposed to the static deflection basins acquired by the FWD. However, the sensitivity of the TSD's laser Doppler sensors, particularly when applied to rigid pavements characterized by low magnitude deflections and inherent measurement variability, has hindered the reliable backcalculation of deflection parameters and consequently limited their usability for detailed structural evaluation. This research proposes to establish the applicability of TSD sensor measurements to establish means to estimate the structural integrity of jointed concrete pavements, in particular their load transfer efficiency. To that end, a comprehensive numerical simulation will be carried out to evaluate the impact of key rigid pavement parameters on measured deflection velocities to identify sensors that may be best suited for establishing relationships to estimate load transfer efficiency, with subsequent validation using existing field data from established test site databases. Ultimately, this research will provide pavement engineers with a clearer understanding of the capabilities of TSD technology for rigid pavement evaluation, enabling more informed decisions regarding its practical application in network-level structural assessment and the derivation of meaningful structural indicators. This study will employ a two-pronged approach. By means of numerical simulation, the dynamic response of rigid pavements under wheel loads will be developed, replicating the loading conditions of a TSD. This simulation will systematically investigate the influence of critical pavement parameters, such as slab thickness, modulus of subgrade reaction, joint stiffness, and the presence of anomalies. The findings will then be validated using existing field data obtained from well-documented rigid pavement test sections where both TSD and FWD are available. By comparing simulated and measured deflection velocities and subsequently calculating analogous deflection indices, including a TSD-derived joint load transfer efficiency, the research will establish the conditions under which TSD data provides reliable information for rigid pavement assessment and determine the correlation and applicability of these new indices relative to established FWD-based indicators.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.sptc.org/cy3-utep-04

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $134,644.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348306 (CY3-UTEP-04)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Southern Plains Transportation Center

  University of Oklahoma
  202 W Boyd St, Room 213A
  Norman, OK  United States  73019

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Oklahoma, Norman

  School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  202 West Boyd Street, Room 334
  Norman, OK  United States  73019
• Project Managers:

  Ghasemi, Hamid

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Texas at El Paso

  El Paso, TX  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Tirado, Cesar

  Carrasco, Cesar

• Start Date: 20260101
• Expected Completion Date: 20270101
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: UTC

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Deflection; Deflectometers; Load transfer; Pavement condition; Pavement joints; Rigid pavements; Simulation; Test sections
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01975765
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Southern Plains Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348306 (CY3-UTEP-04)
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 6 2026 5:26PM