Stiff-plate bearing test simulation based on FWD results

Abstract

The control of compaction’s degree of the lower pavement layers in Poland usually is done by making use of stiff-plate bearing tests. After the subgrade and/or subbase are constructed, there is no further possibility to check if the proper (designed) Ev2 values were achieved during the construction works. Some possible remedy of this problem can come with a nonstandard use of falling weight deflectometer results analysis. This paper presents potential applications of numerical simulations of plate bearing test based on dynamic deflection data and theoretical model of flexible pavement with high modulus asphalt concrete. Considering the combination of dynamic test results with static numerical or theoretical models used as components of inverse procedure the promising estimates of Ev2 can be achieved within non-destructive test frame. The conducted studies show how much the theoretically evaluated Ev2 secant modulus can be reliably characterized from nonstandard testing data with acceptable engineering accuracy.