Simple Dynamic Hammer for Evaluation of Physical Conditions of Pavement Structures

Even though low-volume roads usually serve as secondary roads on the entire road network, they are of great importance for the distribution of goods to a number of rural areas in Thailand. However, the budgets for evaluation of the physical condition of the pavement structure of roads in this catego...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transportation research record 2011-01, Vol.2204 (1), p.35-44
Main Authors: Kongkitkul, Warat, Punthutaecha, Koonnamas, Youwai, Sompote, Jongpradist, Pornkasem, Moryadee, Saravut, Posribink, Thitikorn, Bamrungwong, Chakree, Hirakawa, Daiki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Devices
Dynamics
Hammers
Maintenance
Networks
Pavements
Roads
Rural areas
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Summary:Even though low-volume roads usually serve as secondary roads on the entire road network, they are of great importance for the distribution of goods to a number of rural areas in Thailand. However, the budgets for evaluation of the physical condition of the pavement structure of roads in this category and for their subsequent maintenance are surprisingly limited. In addition, the number of specialists required to perform visual inspections is small, and simple static tests on road surfaces are time-consuming and thus expensive. Consequently, it is difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate the physical conditions of pavement structures at a sufficient number of locations. To mitigate this, it becomes necessary to develop a simple test device and a simple means of test analysis to evaluate the physical condition of the pavement structure. This paper introduces a dynamic hammer and discusses a procedure for analysis of the test data. Experiments were performed on both asphalt-paved and unpaved surfaces, which are usually used for low-volume roads. In addition, plate load tests were performed in parallel to compare the test results and validate the analytical framework. It was found that the test device and the framework for analysis of the test data presented in this paper are relevant for use, in particular because of the simplicity of device production, the ease of device use, the time-effectiveness of test performance, and the procedures used for data analysis. Therefore, maintenance can be performed at sufficient numbers of locations of low-volume roads to keep them in good physical condition for serving the entire road network.
ISSN:0361-1981
2169-4052
DOI:10.3141/2204-05