Citation

Berger L, Greenstein J. Transp. Res. Rec. 1984; 997: 90-98.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1984, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A 50-km rural road that connects Roseau-Pont Casse and Hatton Garden in Dominica was evaluated by means of the Benkelman beam in February 1983. The rebound deflection basin obtained under a dual-wheel axle load was interpreted by means of a pocket computer with 8-K RAM. The subgrade modulus, subgrade California bearing ratio, base modulus, asphalt modulus, and the required asphalt concrete overlay were calculated for each point while performing the nondestructive testing (NDT) survey. Although measurement of deflection basins with the Benkelman beam is not common practice, satisfactory results were obtained. A team composed of the truck driver and his assistant, an experienced engineer and his assistant, and two traffic control men was able to measure 80 to 100 deflection basins, or about 10 km of road, in a typical working day. By using the pocket computer, all calculations, including the overlay thickness of each tested point, can be completed in about 1 min. Therefore, the road rehabilitation design can be completed while conducting the NDT. In Dominica both the NDT and the strengthening design of the 50-km road were done simultaneously and completed in 1 week. The detailed methodology and computer programs are presented in this paper. The program is based on the theory of linear elastic systems and written in BASIC language. It can be easily adjusted and implemented with other nondestructive pavement evaluation devices such as the road rater or the falling weight deflectometer.

Language: en

Keywords

ROADS AND STREETS; COMPUTERS, MICROPROCESSOR; HIGHWAY ENGINEERING - Computer Applications; NONDESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION; SURFACES - Roughness Measurement