Relationships between Asphalt-Layer Moduli under Vehicular Loading and FWD Loading
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 1
Abstract
The modulus of the asphalt layer in a pavement structure subjected to vehicular loading is different from that subjected to falling weight deflectometer (FWD) loading. A comprehensive approach is developed in this study to investigate the relationships between asphalt layer moduli under the two loading conditions. Two full-scale asphalt pavements named flexible pavement and semirigid pavement were constructed. The structural responses of these two pavements under vehicular and FWD loadings were measured. The modulus master curves of asphalt layers in field pavements were developed based on the measured responses and the finite-element model. The developed master curves were found to be able to accurately predict asphalt layer moduli under either vehicular or FWD loading. Based on the obtained master curves, the ratios of asphalt layer moduli under vehicular loading to those under FWD loading were calculated under various conditions. The calculated ratios are mostly lower than 1.0 in a wide range of vehicular speeds, regardless of temperatures. The ratio increases with rising vehicular speed, but does not show a consistent trend with pavement temperature. In particular, the ratios are noticeably lower at intermediate temperatures than those at either high or low temperatures. Hence, the use of FWD to determine the stiffness moduli of asphalt layers may significantly overestimate their true stiffness in typical in-service conditions. The methods and findings in this study may provide a useful reference to correlate asphalt layer moduli between vehicular loading and FWD loading.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The study was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFB1600100) and the Scientific Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (Grant No. 2019-01-07-00-07-E00025). The sponsorships are gratefully acknowledged.
References
Ai, C., C. Xiao, J. Zeng, A. Rahmanali, and Y. Qiu. 2017. “Dynamic strain response of asphalt pavement and equivalent conversion of load effects.” China Civ. Eng. J. 50 (1): 123–132.
Al-Qadi, I. L., M. A. Elseifi, P. J. Yoo, S. H. Dessouky, N. Gibson, T. Harman, J. D’Angelo, and K. Petros. 2008. “Accuracy of current complex modulus selection procedure from vehicular load pulse: NCHRP Project 1-37A mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2087 (1): 81–90. https://doi.org/10.3141/2087-09.
Belt, R., T. Morrison, and E. Weaver. 2006. Long-term pavement performance program falling weight deflectometer maintenance manual. McLean, VA: Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.
Cheng, H., L. Liu, and L. Sun. 2019a. “Critical response analysis of steel deck pavement based on viscoelastic finite element model.” Int. J. Pavement Eng. 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2019.1607341.
Cheng, H., L. Liu, and L. Sun. 2019b. “Determination of layer modulus master curve for steel deck pavement using field-measured strain data.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2673 (2): 617–627. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198119828685.
Chinese Standard. 2004. Technical specifications for construction of highway asphalt pavements. JTG F40. Beijing: China Communication Press.
Chinese Standard. 2011. Standard test methods of bitumen and bituminous mixture for highway engineering. JTG E20. Beijing: China Communication Press.
Chinese Standard. 2017. Specifications for design of highway asphalt pavement. JTG D50. Beijing: China Communication Press.
Garcia, G., and M. R. Thompson. 2008. “Strain and pulse duration considerations for extended-life hot-mix asphalt pavement design.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2087 (1): 3–11. https://doi.org/10.3141/2087-01.
Hornyak, N., and J. A. Crovetti. 2009. “Analysis of load pulse durations for Marquette interchange instrumentation project.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2094 (1): 53–61. https://doi.org/10.3141/2094-06.
Howard, I., and K. Warren. 2008. “Investigation of thin flexible pavement response between traffic and the falling weight deflectometer (FWD).” Int. J. Geotech. Eng. 2 (4): 329–341. https://doi.org/10.3328/IJGE.2008.02.04.329-341.
Huang, Y. 1993. Pavement analysis and design. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Kim, Y. R. 2008. Modeling of asphalt concrete. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Kim, Y. R., B. O. Hibbs, and Y. C. Lee. 1995. “Temperature correction of deflections and backcalculated asphalt concrete moduli.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1473 (1): 55–62. https://doi.org/10.3141/2374-07.
Krarup, J. 1994. Bearing capacity and water. Part II: Measured response. Roskilde, Denmark: Danish Road Institute.
Leiva-Villacorta, F., and D. Timm. 2013. “Falling weight deflectometer loading pulse duration and its effect on predicted pavement responses.” In Proc., 92nd Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
Loulizi, A., I. L. Alqadi, S. Lahouar, and T. E. Freeman. 2002. “Measurement of vertical compressive stress pulse in flexible pavements: Representation for dynamic loading tests.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1816 (1): 125–136. https://doi.org/10.3141/1816-14.
Lukanen, E. O., R. Stubstad, R. C. Briggs, and B. Intertec. 2000. Temperature predictions and adjustment factors for asphalt pavement. McLean, VA: Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.
Marshall, C., R. Meier, and M. Welch. 2001. “Seasonal temperature effects on flexible pavements in Tennessee.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1764 (1): 89–96. https://doi.org/10.3141/1764-10.
Mateos, A., and M. B. Snyder. 2002. “Validation of flexible pavement structural response models with data from the Minnesota road research project.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1806 (1): 19–29. https://doi.org/10.3141/1806-03.
Mehta, Y., and R. Roque. 2003. “Evaluation of FWD data for determination of layer moduli of pavements.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 15 (1): 25–31. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2003)15:1(25).
NCHRP (National Cooperative Highway Research Program). 2004. Guide for mechanistic-empirical design of new and rehabilitated pavement structures—Final report for project 1-37A. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
Park, D. Y., N. Buch, and K. Chatti. 2001. “Effective layer temperature prediction model and temperature correction via falling weight deflectometer deflections.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1764 (1): 97–111. https://doi.org/10.3141/1764-11.
Qin, J. 2010. Predicting flexible pavement structural response using falling weight deflectometer deflections. Athens, OH: Ohio Univ.
Rada, G. R., C. A. Richter, and P. Jordahl. 1994. Nondestructive testing of pavements and backcalculation of moduli: Second volume. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
RIOHT (Research Institute of Highway Test-track). 2016. Annual report of the RIOHT test track. Beijing: Research Institute of Highway.
Saal, N. J., and P. S. Pell. 1960. “Fatigue of bituminous road mixes.” Kolloid Z. 171 (1): 61–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01520326.
Sebaaly, P. E., N. Tabatabaee, and T. Scullion. 1992. “Comparison of back-calculated moduli from falling weight deflectometer and truck loading.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1377 (1): 88–98.
Sun, L. 2016. Structural behavior of asphalt pavements. Kidlington, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Tayabji, S. D., and E. O. Lukanen. 2000. Nondestructive testing of pavements and back-calculation of moduli: Third volume. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Timm, D. H., A. L. Priest, and T. V. McEwen. 2004. Design and instrumentation of the structural pavement experiment at the NCAT test track. Auburn, AL: National Center for Asphalt Technology.
Ulloa, A., E. Y. Hajj, R. V. Siddharthan, and P. E. Sebaaly. 2013. “Equivalent loading frequencies for dynamic analysis of asphalt pavements.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 25 (9): 1162–1170. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000662.
Wang, H., and M. Li. 2016. “Comparative study of asphalt pavement responses under FWD and moving vehicular loading.” J. Transp. Eng. 142 (12): 04016069. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000902.
Wang, H., M. Li, P. Szary, and X. Hu. 2019. “Structural assessment of asphalt pavement condition using back-calculated modulus and field data.” Constr. Build. Mater. 211 (Jun): 943–951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.250.
Williams, M., R. Landel, and J. Ferry. 1995. “Mechanical properties of substances of high molecular weight in amorphous polymers and other glass-forming liquids.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 77 (19): 3701–3707.
Zang, G., L. Sun, C. Zhang, and L. Li. 2018. “A nondestructive evaluation method for semi-rigid base cracking condition of asphalt pavement.” Constr. Build. Mater. 162 (Feb): 892–897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.12.157.
Zhou, L. 2014. “Temperature correction factor for pavement moduli back-calculated from falling weight deflectometer test.” In Proc., CICTP 2014: Safe, Smart, and Sustainable Multimodal Transportation Systems, 1080–1090. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Zhu, J. 2013. Method of high-precision modulus back-calculation for multi-layer structure of asphalt pavement. Shanghai, China: Tongji Univ.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 24, 2020
Accepted: May 4, 2020
Published online: Nov 2, 2020
Published in print: Jan 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Apr 2, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.