PMSS Project Details

Project ID:	FHWA-PROJ-09-0024
Project Name:	Techniques for Evaluation and Interpretation of Pavement Deflections for Network-Level Analysis
Status:	Completed
Contact:	Last Name: Wiser First Name: Larry J Telephone: 202-493-3079 E-mail: larry.wiser@dot.gov
Organization:	Federal Highway Administration - Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
Office:	Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Team:	Long-Term Pavement Performance Team
Roadmap/Focus area(s):	Infrastructure Research and Technology Strategic Plan and Roadmap
Project Findings:	Data not yet available
Project Description:	Network-level pavement management systems are typically performed using only surface distress measurements. However, it is commonly accepted that the pavement structural capacity has a major effect on the rate of deterioration. Consequently, it is critical in forecasting future pavement conditions to know the structural capacity. Techniques currently available to estimate structural capacity from deflections are time-consuming and require an experienced analyst. Additionally, these techniques may provide more detail than is necessary for network-level decisions. As a result, use of pavement deflections in network-level analysis has been limited, even in those agencies that use a falling weight deflectometer extensively in their project-level testing. Results of this research would also have applications for agencies that do not use deflection testing in their pavement management systems; a simplified index describing structural performance would be useful in comparing project segments or in project selection. Using Long-Term Pavement Performance and other data should define the test spacing necessary to implement the technique(s) required to use pavement deflection data in a network-level Pavement Management System.
Laboratories:	Not Applicable
Start Date:	August 1, 2009
End Date:	October 31, 2011
Funding Amount:	$299,951.00
FHWA Program Name:	Innovative Pavement Research and Deployment
Goals:	The key project objective is to develop an approach for incorporating techniques to interpret and evaluate deflection data for network-level pavement management system (PMS) applications.
Project Type:	Offsite
Background Information:	Data not yet available
Test Methodology:	Data not yet available
Other Information:	Data not yet available
Partners:	Federal Highway Administration: Office of Research, Development, and Technology - Office of Infrastructure Research and Development; Role(s): Advisory, Technical, Other stakeholder Federal Highway Administration: Office of Infrastructure - Office of Pavement Technology; Role(s): Advisory Federal Highway Administration: Resource Center; Role(s): Technical Federal Highway Administration: Office of Infrastructure - Office of Asset Management; Role(s): Other stakeholder TRB Expert Task Group; Role(s): Technical, Other stakeholder
More Information URL(s):
Fieldtest:	Data not yet available
Expected Benefits:	Network-level pavement management systems are used to make decisions valued at hundreds of millions of dollars with a potentially incomplete assessment of pavement condition. Applicable techniques to assess pavement structural condition could improve the accuracy of these systems and potentially save transportation agencies considerable amounts of money, as well as reduce delays to the public stemming from construction that is not optimally timed. This work should be tightly focused on providing solutions that are intended for easy implementation in State pavement management systems.
Deliverables:	1. Name: Final Report Product Type(s): Research report, Data, Techbrief Description: The deliverable is a final report describing the analysis approach, findings, and recommendations from the study. Audiences: Researchers, State highway agencies, Long-term pavement performance stakeholders Secondary Audiences: 2. Name: Stand-alone Guide Product Type(s): Research report, Draft standard, specifications, or guidelines Description: The deliverable is a stand-alone guide with step-by-step instructions for using deflection interpretation techniques for network-level analyses. Audiences: Long-term pavement performance stakeholders, Implementers, State highway agencies Secondary Audiences:
Related URL(s):
FHWA Topics:	Roads and Bridges--Pavement and Materials
TRT Terms:	Pavement performance
FHWA Disciplines:	Pavement and Materials
Subject Areas:	Pavements Materials Research