Abstract
In recent years, software has been developed to calculate aircraft pavement strength ratings from modulus values that are back-calculated from deflections measured by a falling weight deflectometer. Deflection data from a uniform section of consistent runway pavement was analysed for variability to determine the effect of deflection variability on back-calculated modulus and the resulting pavement strength rating. The drop force of the falling weight had a significant influence on the calculated pavement strength, with 50 kN drop force rating the pavement approximately 35% lower than the 100 kN drop force. The number of layers in the nominated pavement structure also had a significant influence on the back-calculated modulus values, but not the resulting pavement strength rating. Compared to traditional design-based evaluation using intrusively measured layer thicknesses and laboratory material characterisation, the falling weight deflection back-calculation underestimated the pavement strength. Consequently, it is recommended that airports do not set their PCN based on back-calculated FWD data unless also supported by intrusive geotechnical investigation and a design-based evaluation.
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Acknowledgements
The FWD and geotechnical investigation data provided by Dubbo Regional Council, ARRB, and Macquarie Geotech is greatly appreciated and gratefully acknowledged.
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White, G., Barbeler, A. (2019). Evaluating Falling Weight Deflectometer Back-Calculation Software for Aircraft Pavement Strength Rating. In: El-Badawy, S., Abd El-Hakim, R. (eds) Recent Developments in Pavement Design, Modeling and Performance. GeoMEast 2018. Sustainable Civil Infrastructures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01908-2_6
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