www'arrb'com'auAdvancing safety and efficiency in transport through knowledge

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Falling Weight Deflectometers in Australia with
emphasis on network testing

• Jim Johnson-Clarke

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Comparison of Australia with USA
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Comparison of Australia with USA

• Size of Australia - approx 7,650,000 sq km
• Size of USA - approx 9,600,000 sq km (including
  Alaska and Hawaii) or 7,900,000 sq km without
  them
• Population
• Australia - 20.5 million
• USA - 302 million

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Comparison of Australia with USA

• Road Types
• Sealed Road Network
• Australia - 337,000 km
• USA - 3,738,000 km
• Unsealed Roads
• Australia - 510,000 km
• USA - 2,600,000 km

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Australia

• Comprises of 6 States and 2 Territories
• Each responsible for own road network but get
  federal funding for major roads of national
  significance
• Responsibility
• State / Territory Road Network 150,000 km
• Local Government 650,000 km
• National Highway System 18,500 km

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Australia

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FWDs in Australia

• As far as I am aware there are currently 14 FWDs
  in Australia but will soon be 16
• ARRB 3 Dynatest, 1 Carlbro (3 FWD 1 HWD)
• PMS 3 Dynatest (2 FWD 1 HWD)
• Chadwicks T T 1 Dynatest
• Western Geotechnics 1 Dynatest, 1 JILS(2 FWD)
• Northern Pavement Consultants 1 CarlBros
• Brisbane City Council 1 CarlBros
• MRWA 1 Dynatest (FWD)
• MRQld 2 Dynatest (1 FWD 1 HWD)
• TSA 1 Dynatest (FWD)

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FWDs in Australia

• 4 owned by State Road Authorities
• 1 owned by a City Council
• 11 owned by private companies (consultants)

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Australian Testing parameters

• Most common loads are 566 and 700 kPa
  equivalent to 40 and 50 kN respectively
• Geophones are generally at 0, 200, 300, 450, 600,
  750, 900, 1200 and 1500 mm from load centre

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Test Method

• The standard impact load response test method is
• ASTM D 4694 Standard Test Method for Deflections
  with a Falling Weight Type Impulse Load Device
• Also now an Australian standard which hopefully
  everyone will eventually follow to make
  standardisation easier

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Calibration facility in Australia

• We had SHRP facility in Melbourne in 90s but due
  to slab failure and other issues it has ceased to
  operate
• The state road authority in Western Australia
  (MRWA) have established a facility in Perth a few
  years ago and have recently upgraded to latest
  version
• A facility will be established on the East coast
  soon now that the need for the slab has been
  reduced

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Calibration facility in Australia
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Network testing with FWD

• Currently one state and two territories survey
  their networks with FWD on a regular basis.
  Three states use deflectograph to do some network
  testing and one of these states (NSW) is going to
  use FWD next year on half their network.
• The other two states have their own FWD and do
  testing as required

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Network testing with FWD

• One state and two territories survey their
  networks on a regular basis
• Western Australia - 34,000 km at 800 m spacing
  (17,000 km with a reading every 400 m on
  alternate sides)
• 700 kPa (50kN) stress with 9 geophones at 0, 200,
  300, 400, 500, 600, 750, 900 and 1500 mm
• 3 drops with DGPS and chainage recorded
• Generally collect whole network every 3 out of 4
  years with first survey being done in1999
• Current data collection contract is for 7 years
  to allow for continuity

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Network testing with FWD

• State divided into 8 regions and each has a ten
  year maintenance contract
• FWD along with MLP data and images used to track
  condition over contract period. Average
  condition to be same at end of contract period as
  it was at start

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Comparison of Australia with USA
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Network testing with FWD

• Australian Capital Territory (ACT) -
  approximately 2,000 km with one third being done
  each year. Mainly urban roads. 100 m spacing in
  one direction only
• 700 kPa (50kN) stress with 9 geophones at 0, 200,
  300, 400, 500, 600, 750, 900 and 1500 mm
• 3 drops with DGPS and chainge recorded
• Three year contract with extension options
• Data used to plan maintenance and reconstruction
• MLP data and images also collected

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Network testing with FWD

• Northern Territory (NT) - approximately 1,000 km
  done each year on sealed roads. Total sealed
  network is around 5,000 km. 50 m spacing in one
  direction only
• 700 kPa (50kN) stress with 9 geophones at 0, 200,
  300, 450, 600, 750, 900, 1200 and 1500 mm
• 3 drops with DGPS and chainge recorded
• Single year contract
• Data used to plan maintenance and reconstruction
• MLP data and images also collected

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Network testing with FWD

• New South Wales (NSW) - plan to do around 9,000
  km next year which is approximately half their
  network. Still under discussion but will
  probably be 100 m spacing in one direction
• 700 kPa (50kN) stress with 9 geophones at 0, 200,
  300, 450, 600, 750, 900, 1200 and 1500 mm
• 3 drops with DGPS and chainage recorded
• Single year contract
• Data used to plan maintenance and reconstruction
  and as comparison with deflectograph and high
  speed
• MLP data and images also collected on whole
  network annually

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Network testing with FWD

• ARRB also undertook a survey of 40,000 km of road
  in Indonesia a few years ago. 500 m spacing in
  one direction
• 566 kPa (40kN) stress with 7 geophones at 0, 200,
  300, 450, 600, 900 and 1500 mm
• 3 drops with chainage recorded
• Data used to plan maintenance and reconstruction
• Roughness, rutting, gps, gpr and images also
  collected on whole network

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Equipment

• Network Survey Vehicle
• Urban or Rural

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Equipment

• Network Survey Vehicle
• Unsealed

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