STRUCTURAL EVALUATION AND LOAD ZONING OF LOW-VOLUME ROADS: A CASE STUDY.

Nondestructive tests using a Falling Weight Deflectometer were performed on all of the farm-to-market roads in the county and a program called LOADRATE was used to analyze the data. The solution is semiempirical and is based on field observations and on ILLIPAVE, a nonlinear, finite element pavement analysis code. The microcomputer-based LOADRATE program uses the deflection basin obtained from the Falling Weight Deflectometer to determine the nonlinear elastic properties of the base course and the subgrade, and then computes the residual deformation, or rut, that will be caused by a particular repeated load on the pavement. It can also be used to estimate the base course thickness. The model adopted for repetitive loading follows a hyperbolic-shaped loading and reloading load deflection curve with a linear unloading path. The results of the analyses are compared with current load-zoned roads.

STRUCTURAL EVALUATION AND LOAD ZONING OF LOW-VOLUME ROADS: A CASE STUDY. Conference Paper