A Review and Comparison of FWD and Benkelman Beam in Evaluation of Pavement Structure Capacity

Abstract

A new asphalt layer is typically added to the original pavement structure as part of major rehabilitation projects for India's road network, which is largely degraded and in need of repair. Understanding and analyzing the structural capacity of the pavement is crucial to creating a rehabilitation design that is both durable and cost-effective. Measuring a flexible pavement's structural capacity in relation to the deflections it causes when a load is applied. In numerous nations, the Falling Weight Deflect to meter (FWD) and the Benkelman beam are the most often employed methods for determining pavement deflections; the former operates under dynamic loading conditions, while the latter operates under static loading. However, since these devices are still commonly used in many nations, including India, it is vital to compare the deflections measured by the Benkelman beam and the falling weight deflect meter, even though numerous design approaches, like AASHTO, do not support their usage under static stress. 30 deflection observation stations along a 1.5 km flexible urban roadway segment were chosen for this investigation, and deflections were measured using BBD and FWD methodologies. On a point-scoring basis, both exams are administered simultaneously. Also, the information gathered during booth testing complies with IRC 81-1997 and IRC 115-2014.