ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Page Count: 8

Field Evaluation of Pavement Instrumentation Methods

Tabatabaee, N
Research Assistant, The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Al-Qadi, IL
Assistant Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Sebaaly, PE
Assistant Professor, University of Nevada at Reno, Reno, NV

(Received 24 June 1991; accepted 16 August 1991)

Abstract

Full-scale testing was conducted to compare the performance of different in situ instrumentations used in flexible pavement, including strain gages, pressure cells, geophones, and single-layer deflectometers. Two test sections were instrumented: one thin section (15.2 cm [6 in. thick]) and one thick section (25.4 cm [10 in. thick]). Each section is 15.2 m (50 ft) long. The testing variables included pavement structure, load, tire pressures, and speed. The criteria for evaluation of performance of the instruments included survivability, repeatability, reliability, the effect of test variables, ease of installation, and data processing. The measured response under different conditions was compared with the calculated response using a multi-layered elastic model. Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing was used to quantify the in situ material properties needed for the computer model.

Keywords:
strain gage, pressure cell, linear variable differential transformers (LVDT), full-scale testing, pavement instrumentation, pavement response

Paper ID: JTE11913J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE11913J
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