Effectiveness of static and dynamic backcalculation approaches for asphalt pavement

Abstract

In this study, the field falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data for asphalt pavement with various base types were backcalculated through dynamic and static backcalculation approaches, and the effectiveness of backcalculation approaches was studied. Asphalt concrete (AC) was treated as a viscoelastic material and the complex modulus was obtained using the dynamic approach. The dynamic modulus at a fixed frequency was computed for comparison purposes. The coefficient of variance and the compensating layer effect were assumed as two characteristics for the effectiveness of backcalculation approaches. The results show that the layer property from the dynamic backcalculation approach for different stations were more consistent and showed smaller coefficient of variance, which were more appropriate for the characterization pavement behavior. The elastic moduli from the static approach were more variable and exhibited a compensating layer effect in which a portion of the modulus of one layer was backcalculated into other layers. The dynamic approach is more effective than static approaches in backcalculation of layer properties.