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Abstract
This study involves the application of an Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) (JILS-20) on numerous test sections in Taiwan. The goal is to develop a temperature correction equation and to establish a structural evaluation system, Structural strength index (SSI), for rapid and reliable assessment of pavement structural conditions. The SSI evaluation system will assist transportation authorities in prioritizing routine preventive maintenance and rehabilitation needs. Temperature correction factors were established based on the 1176 FWD tests on two specific built test sections. Thus, the effects of traffic load on pavement sections can be eliminated. Comparisons of temperature correction factors with other studies were performed. Though, it is interesting to find that in those studies temperature correction factors for deflection were developed under different climatic conditions and pavement structures, the temperature correction factors differ, in average, by only 13%. Three significant indicators for upper and subgrade layers were identified through the comprehensive statistical analyses. Criteria were established so that a pavement engineer can repeatedly use these three indicators for cross checking and verifying the most reasonable assessment. For overall structural evaluation, the SSI was established, with criteria to differentiate good or poor pavement structural condition. One of the advantages of using the SSI is that after the criteria are established, no backcalculation process is required to determine whether structural conditions are good or poor. The SSI is a direct computation from the FWD deflection measurements, which are first corrected for temperature. As more experience is gained using the SSI evaluation system, a revised system will provide higher reliability and accuracy.