Analysis of runway deflectometer campaign for implementation on airport pavement management system

Franco Pigozzi

Investigation

;Silvia Portas

Writing - Review & Editing

;Francesca Maltinti

Member of the Collaboration Group

;Mauro Coni

Member of the Collaboration Group

2014-01-01

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Abstract

The load-carrying capacity, is one of the indicators used to assess airfield pavement conditions. It could be estimated by evaluating the response of stationary dynamic loads, using a deflectometric device that simulates the stress inducted by an Aircraft moving at moderate speed. This device is widely used because tests are non-destructive and rapid to execute and can be conducted for cyclic investigations, providing valuable support to maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) decision makers through pavement management system (PMS). Pavement response is evaluated as a function of the deflection basin induced by the deflectometric device. It is well known that deflectometric measurements are influenced by external parameters such as weather conditions, especially temperature of upper layers or the percentage of water contained on unbounded layers. In this study the deflections basin response obtained for different load and weather conditions has been analyzed through the application of benchmarking values for immediately structural assessments. Tests were performed using the Heavy Weight Deflectometer (HWD) on 9 points along five longitudinal alignments from the centerline, 0.00 m, ± 3.00 m, and ± 5.20 m. The benchmarking methodology was used to evaluate and compare runway pavement performance under different weather conditions and testing loads. The applied benchmarking methodology resulted an easy and rapid assessment tool of pavement conditions at network-level.