The 12 International Conference of International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG) 1-6 October, 2008

Goa, India

th

A Simplified Method for Evaluation of Pavement Layers Moduli Using Surface Deflection Data
J. Vakili
Ninyo & Moore, Irvine, California, United States Keywords: pavement, layered system, equivalent modulus ABSTRACT: The objective of this paper is to present a simplified method for evaluation of in situ moduli of pavement layers. Layered elastic theory and a computer program (ELSYM5) were used for calculation of the surface deflection of a two-layer pavement on a subgrade. It is shown that, for the points far from the load, the surface deflection is a function of the subgrade modulus only and is inversely proportional to it. A model based on Equivalent Layer Theory is introduced for evaluation of modulus of elasticity of pavement layers. The accuracy of the proposed model was verified by a comparison of the elastic moduli back calculated by this method with the actual values. It was concluded that elastic moduli of pavement layers may be evaluated by this method with a reasonable approximation and can be used in practical pavement and overlay design.

1 Introduction
An effective pavement management program requires a procedure by which the in situ condition of existing pavements may be evaluated. Such a procedure should provide data useful for estimating the capability of pavement to carry increased traffic loads and for the design of overlays. Non-destructive methods for measuring in situ moduli have been based on two techniques: Surface vibratory method and surface deflection method. The surface vibratory method has been used by only a relatively small number of researchers, because of the more sophisticated instruments requirement and the higher cost. Surface deflection method is more reliable for practical purposes. Equipments used for deflection measurement include the Benkelman Beam (Coffman 1967), Dynaflect (Scrivner et al., 1966), and Deflectometer (Bonitzer and Ledger, 1976). Typical pavements are composed of layers with moduli of elasticity decreasing with depth. General theory of stresses and strains in layered elastic systems was discussed by Burmister (1945) and (1962). Ueshita and Meyerhof (1968) calculated the surface deflections of an elastic layer under uniformly distributed loads. Irwin (1977) presented a trial and error technique for determination of elastic moduli in a multi-layer system by the use of a computer program based on the Burmister theory. In this paper a pavement model has been introduced which includes surface layer, base layer, and subgrade. This model will help simplify the calculation of the elastic moduli of the pavement layers.

Figure 1. Substituting a three layer pavement by an equivalent two layer system.

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2 Proposed Model
Figure 1 shows a three layer system under the application of a surface load uniformly distributed on a circular surface. Thenn de Barros (1966) showed that, for a three layer system, the upper two layers of thicknesses ( h 1 and

h 2) may be replaced by a single layer of thickness (h = h1 + h2 )

having an equivalent modulus of:

Ee = (

h1 3 E1 + h2 3 E 2 h1 + h2

)3

(1)

The three layer system is thus reduced to a two layer system as shown on Figure 1-b. For a two layer system, Palmer and Barber (1940) assumed that the upper layer may be replaced by an equivalent thickness of subgrade material. Combining these two assumptions, a homogeneous semi-infinite mass of subgrade material can be substituted for the three layer system as shown on Figure 2. The thickness of the equivalent layer will be:

he = h

E e (1 3 ) 2 E3 (1 e ) 2

(2)

Figure 2. Substituting a two layer pavement by an equivalent system. The vertical surface deflection is then obtained by adding the deflection of the equivalent layer between the surface and a depth of of

he

to the deflection at a depth of

he

in a semi-infinite mass. In the case of a uniform

circular load applied to the surface of a semi-infinite mass, the deflection at the center of the circle and at a depth

he , according to Foster and Ahlvin (1959), is:

W1 =

2qa (1 3 ) 2 E3 he

he 2 he he h 1+ ( e )2 1 + ( ) 1 + 2 a a 2a (1 3 ) a

(3)

Substituting the value of

from equation 2 into equation 3 results:

m m m m 1 + ( )2 W1 = W0 1 + ( ) 2 1 + 2 k k 2k (1 3 ) k h 1 3 m= 3 a 1 e 2
2

(4)

Where:

(5)

k =3

E3 Ee

(6)
2

W0 =

2(1 3 )qa E3

(7)

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The deflection of the equivalent layer between the surface and a depth of

he

is:

W2 =

E3 (W0 W1 ) Ee

(8)

The total surface deflection at the center of the circle is then:

W z = W1 + W2
Substituting the values of

(9)

W1

and

W2

into (9) results:

Wz m m m m = k 3 + (1 k 3 ) 1 + ( ) 2 1 + 1+ ( )2 2 W0 k k 2k (1 3 ) k
The vertical displacement at a depth of

(10)

he

and a distance

from the center of the circle is:

r h (Wr )1 = (W0 ) f ( , e ) a a
The function

(11)

(f)

has been defined by Ahlvin and Ulrey (1962). The vertical displacement of the equivalent layer

between the surface and the depth of

he

at a distance

is:

(Wr ) 2 = W0
The total surface deflection at a distance

E3 r r h [ f ( ,0) f ( , e )] Ee a a a

(12)

from the centre of the circle is:

E E r h r Wr = (Wr )1 + (Wr ) 2 = W0 [ f ( , e )(1 3 ) + f ( ,0)( 3 )] a a Ee a Ee

When (

(13)

he r ) is large compared to ( a a

), the above equation can be reduced to:

Wr a = W0 2r

(14)

Hence the surface deflection of the points far from the load is independent of the moduli of the pavement layers and is a function of subgrade modulus only.

3 Determination of Equivalent Pavement Modulus from Surface Deflection Data

Surface deflection data for a pavement under the application of a uniform circular load may be obtained experimentally. Using the measured deflection value at a point far from centre and using the equation (14), the value of subgrade modulus

( E3 )

can be estimated. The measured deflection value at the centre of the circle

may also be substituted in the equation (10) to determine the value of the parameter

and subsequently the

Wz equivalent modulus ( E e ) . Values of W0

graphical form on Figure 3.

for Poissons Ratio of the subgrade material

3 = 0.4 are presented in

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Figure 3 - Normalized deflection

Wz W0

at centre of circle for 3 = 0.4.

4 Comparison of Back Calculated Pavement Modulus with the Actual Values

Four different pavement models were considered all having the same total pavement thickness of meters but different values of the ratio of h1
Modes

h = 0.6

/ h2 :
1 2 3 4

h1 / h2

0.200

0.333

0.500

0.714

Different values were assigned to the elastic modulus and the Poissons Ratio of each layer:
Layers Surface Base Subgrade Elastic Modulus (MPa) Poissons Ratio

E1 = 1772 and 3445 E 2 = 137.8, 206.97, 275.6

= 0.30
= 0.40

= 0.35

E3 = 68.9

A surface uniform load of q = 0.6 MPa was applied to a circular area of radius a = 0.25 meters . Each model was analyzed 12 times for different combination of the elastic moduli by the exact solution given by Burmister using the ELSYM5 computer program. Figure 4 shows examples of the calculated surface deflection curves.

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Figure 4 Example of the Surface Deflection Curves for the Pavement Model1. (1 inch = 0.254 m.) The values of the pavement equivalent modulus (Ee) were calculated as a function of the modulus ratio of (E2/E1) and for different values of the thickness ratio of (h1/h2) using equation (1) and results are plotted on Figure 5. The values of surface deflections at the centre of the circle and at a distance of 2.5 meters from the centre were selected for the back calculations of the subgrade modulus (E3) and the pavement equivalent modulus (Ee). The results of the back calculated values of (Ee) were also plotted on Figure 5 for comparison purposes. As shown, the close agreement between the back calculated values with the curves based on the actual values support the validity and reliability of the proposed model.

Figure 5 Comparison of Actual Values of

E e with back calculated Values from the Model

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5 Conclusions
This paper presents a practical method for evaluation of elastic moduli of pavement layers. Based on the results of the analysis, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. 2. Pavement layers moduli can be back calculated from experimental surface deflection curves. Surface deflections at points far from the load are independent of the pavement layer moduli and are a function of the subgrade elastic parameters only. The proposed model in this paper simplifies the back calculation procedure and the accuracy of the moduli evaluated is within five percent of the results obtained by the rigorous theoretical solutions. This method is particularly useful for the practical design of pavements and overlays.

3.

4.

6 References
Ahlvin, R. G. and Ulery, H. H. 1962. Tabulated Values for Determining the complete pattern of Stresses, Strains, and Deflections Beneath a Uniform Load on a Homogeneous Half-Space, Highway Research Board, Bulletin 342, 1-13. Bonitzer, J. and Leger, P. 1976. LCPC Studies on Pavement Design, Proc. 2 Pavements, 781-788.
nd

Int. Conf. on Structural Design of Asphalt

Burmister, D. M. 1945. The General Theory of Stresses and Displacements in Layered Soil Systems, Applied Physics, 16 (2), 89-96, 16 (3), 126-127, 16 (5), 296-302. Burmister, D. M. 1962, Application of Layered System Concepts and Principles to Interpretations and Evaluations of Asphalt Pavement Performance and to Design and Construction, Proc. Int. Conf. on Structural Design of Asphalt Pavements, 441453. Coffman, B. S. 1967. Pavement Deflections from Laboratory Tests and Layer Theory, Proc. 2 of Asphalt Pavements, 819- 862.
nd

Int. Conf. on Structural Design

Foster, C. R. and Ahlvin, R. G. 1959. Stresses and Deflections Induced by a Uniform Circular Load, Proc. Highway Research Board, 33, 467-470. Irwin, L. H. 1977. Determination of pavement Layer Moduli from Surface Deflection Data for Pavement Performance Evaluation, th Proc. 4 Int. Conf. on the Structural Design of Asphalt Pavements, 1, 831-840. Palmer, L. A. and Barber, E. S. 1940. Soil Displacement under Circular Loaded Areas, Proc. Highway Research Board, 20, 279-286 and 319-332. Scrivner, F. H., Swift, G. and Moore, W. M. 1966. A New Research Tool for Measuring Pavement Deflection, Highway Research Record, 129, 1-11. Thenn de Barros, S. 1966. Deflection Factor Charts for Two and Three-Layer Elastic Systems, Highway Research Record, 145, 83-108. Ueshita, K. and Meyerhoff, G. G. 1968, Surface Displacement of an Elastic Layer under Uniformly Distributed Loads, Highway Research Record, 228, 1-10.

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