Surface distress is a fairly good indicator of rehabilitation needs but it does not directly relate to remaining life estimates. Mechanistic pavement design requires that strains be calculated utilizing more or less complex modeling. Over the years many devices measuring surface deflections under a given load have been developed. The device by choice for assessing strains due to load is the falling weight deflectometer (FWD). It creates an impulse load on the pavement surface. The data are commonly used in models for backcalculation of elastic moduli and strains. More complex modeling would involve finite element or dynamic element methods. The FWD method has proven to be an excellent tool for overlay design. For this purpose its simplicity and straightforwardness are well documented. However, to successfully backcalculate layer stiffness adequate layer thickness is needed. Thus there is a strong need for assessing layer data at testing points. Using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) it is possible to achieve data without coring. The present paper is a part of an ongoing bearing capacity study carried out by a regional road administration in central Sweden. Its objective is to optimize testing for equipment and methods used and presently available. In addition to evaluate the results from the study, the present paper discusses some other applications for GPR that may evolve from it.
KEYWORDS: Roads, Sensors, Laser range finders, Calibration, Nondestructive evaluation, Chromium, Data acquisition, Signal to noise ratio, Aerospace engineering, Iris
The Road Deflection Tester (RDT) is a testing vehicle for highways capable of assessing a road deflection profile at traffic speeds by using two arrays of laser range finders. The deflection profile in turn is evaluated to determine layer properties in the road structure. The present study looks at some geometric relationships that can be used for this purpose. It was found that evaluation techniques used for stationary devices are less suitable. Other methods may however, be of great value.
The Swedish National Road Administration has been using a laser range finder system for assessing longitudinal and transversa profiles of pavements for a number of years. The Civil Administration has expressed interest in trying automated methods for surveying airfield runways. Regardless of sampling method, the data re used as input for computer aided design of new pavement surfaces. Typically, the output will consist of tables and maps of where to pave and mill the old pavement surface. Adjusting an old surface to perfectly smooth standards may require continuously changing the new pavement layer thickness. Traditionally, this was often carried out with mechanical devices, usually in direct touch with a wire. Some manufacturers now offer non-contact devices for pavers such as ultra sound sensors as an alternative to the mechanical sensors thus eliminating the need for setting up sires. The method was tested in late 1997 after the output data were converted for a design to be read directly by a paver control unit. A larger test was done in the summer of 1998. The results were promising and the Royal Swedish Fortifications Administration decided to try the method on a taxiway in 1999. The present paper describes some of the experiences obtained with this method and computer controlled equipment in general.
An Airport located inland central Sweden is susceptible to frost heave. The runway is uneven especially at the end of each winter. The Swedish Road and Transportation Institute Laser Profiler was brought to the site in the spring of 1997 in order to study this seasonal effect. Several longitudinal profiles were sampled along the entire length of the runway. The test was then repeated in the fall when the runway had settled. The profiles were then investigated to see if certain criteria were fulfilled, like the International Civil Aviation Organization straightedge guideline. Several different wavelength intervals of unevenness were also examined. It was found that the frost heave affected certain wavelength bands more than others. It was also possible to determine exactly where the most troublesome spots were located and if they would adversely interfere with an expansion of the runway. Data from the profile could also serve as help in preparing guidelines for safety rules related to roughness.
KEYWORDS: Roads, Sensors, Data modeling, Computer aided design, Signal processing, Computer simulations, Cameras, System integration, Laser systems engineering, Data acquisition
The Swedish National Road Administration has been using a laser based system for assessing pavement surface characteristics for over a decade. Typically, important distress data like roughness and rutting are being sampled at speeds up to 25 meters per second. Other parameters include textures and geometric data, such as cross slope and curvature. The Royal Swedish Fortifications Administration has just recently looked into these techniques for airfield pavements. The objectives are similar but not exactly the same as for highway pavements. A promising aspect is using data for building terrain models of the surface so that overlay design procedures can take place in a computerized environment. The objectives are similar but not exactly the same as for highway pavements. A promising aspect is using data for building terrain models of the surface so that overlay design procedures can take place in a computerized environment. Two different ways of treating the data for this purpose was tried. One model uses several parallel continuous longitudinal profiles. The other consists of snap-shot transverse profiles at five meter intervals. The former model yields good assessment of the volumetric needs of either filling or milling operations. The latter is better for identifying features on the surface. The present paper describes some of experiences obtained with the two methods. However, in both cases the most advantageous aspect of using the non-contact devices is the short time needed for collecting the data.
KEYWORDS: Sensors, Roads, Prototyping, Signal processing, Signal to noise ratio, Laser development, Data modeling, Reflection, Optical filters, Nondestructive evaluation
A laser based deflection tester is being developed by the Swedish National Road Administration. Forty sensors are mounted on a heavy truck to determine two transverse profiles. One profile constitutes an unloaded case. The other profile just behind the rear wheels of the vehicle constitutes the loaded case. The high sampling rate is adequate for filtering the macro texture of the pavement.
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