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Correlation of modulus elasticity of Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD)
towards Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) laboratory
To cite this article: L Caroles et al 2020 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 419 012039
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ICCEE 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 419 (2020) 012039 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/419/1/012039
Correlation of modulus elasticity of Falling Weight
Deflectometer (FWD) towards Light Weight Deflectometer
(LWD) laboratory
L Caroles1, A R Djamaluddin1, A A Amiruddin1, and A Arsyad1
1
Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract. Develop a new laboratory LWD and this study aims to analyse the laboratory
version of the LWD with the field version of the LWD currently developed by Bina Marga,
Indonesia. Basically, the working principle of the developed laboratory LWD is same as the
LWD equipment in the field, which is an instrument that can measure deflection value and
modulus of elasticity through load impulses arising from a load with a specific weight dropped
at a certain height on a plate surface with a particular area on a pavement surface that is will
cause deflection that is measured using a displacement sensor. A series of studies were
conducted to compiled an equation that provides a correlation between the laboratory LWD
and the LWD used in the field.
1. Introduction
Several indicators are used to explain the behaviour of both unbound and bound materials used in
pavement design and construction such as California Bearing Ratio (CBR), resilient modulus, dynamic
penetration, strength, stresses and strains, deformations, etc. However, resilient modulus that is a
stiffness property of the material has been considered as one of the prominent input parameters used in
the several flexible pavement design methods. The level of compaction is evaluated through spot
measurements of density and bearing capacity at some selected locations in the traditional testing
procedure of pavement subgrade. Such tests can leave soft spots undetected and could result in the
premature failure of the pavement. Predicting the pavement surfacing and the compacted soil by
nondestructive equipment decreases material, time and a destructive spot in the measuring area. In
recent times, Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) equipment has been introduced and employed to
investigate the stiffness or resilient modulus of compacted layers of the pavement structure directly,
instead of testing the quality of those layers in term of field density. Several existing studies have
provided detailed descriptions of LWD for investigating soil compaction in the field.
Recently, the nondestructive testing methods are gained acceptance and recommendation in road
construction and evaluation practices for Indonesian highways as the rapid control of compacted soil
bearing capacity.
2. Material and method
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ICCEE 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 419 (2020) 012039 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/419/1/012039
2.1. Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) Test
The Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) is a hand portable falling weight equipment originated from
Germany that first developed in 1981, and has obtained acceptance in several countries such as the
United States, as there is an increasing concern in the use of nondestructive tests such as LWD as in
situ spot-testing equipment for quality control and quality assurance of earthwork compaction.
To provide suitable equipment as the rapid control of compaction of soil bearing capacity, Ministry
of Public Works and Public Housing’s Institute of Road Engineering, Agency for Research and
Development office of road and bridge (Pusjatan) has developed LWD device that used in this present
study. The LWD measures the deflection of the test layer produced from drop weight, drop height
weight, and load according to from the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) (Pd–03-2016-B, SE PUPR
Minister No/19/SE/M/2016), “Standard Test Method for Measuring Deflections with a Light Weight
Deflectometer.". Furthermore, the deflection value obtained from LWD is used to determine the
elasticity modulus of ELWD. Prediction of ELWD is based on the Boussinesq theory relating the static
deflection of an elastic half-space subjected to an axisymmetric surface loading as given by Eq 1, in
which is a stress distribution factor, V is Poisson’s ratio of the soil, w0 is the peak vertical deflection,
Fpk is the peak applied load, and r0 is the radius of the load plate. Figure 1 had shown LWD test to
measure the deflection at the prepared field. Table 4 shown properties of various lightweight
deflectometer devices.
Figure 1. LWD test to measure the deflection at the prepared field.
Table 1. Properties of Various Lightweight Deflectometer Devices.
Properties
Zorn Plate style Solid
Plate diameter 150, 200, 300
(mm) \
Drop mass 10
2
ICCEE 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 419 (2020) 012039 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/419/1/012039
(kg)
Drop height 0.72
(m)
Damper Steel spring
Prima Plate style
Plate diameter 100, 200, 300
(mm)
Drop mass 10,15,20 Weight Release
(kg) (adjustable)
Drop height Variable
(m)
Damper Rubber
TFT Plate style
Plate diameter 100, 150, 200, 300
(mm)
Drop mass 10,15,20
(kg)
Drop height Variable
(m) PDA
Damper Rubber Data Storage
Dynamic Plate style
test Plate diameter 100, 150, 200, 300
(mm)
Drop mass 10,15,20
(kg) Computer
Drop height Variable Drop Weight
(m) (10 kg)
Damper
LWD Plate style
PUSJATAN Plate diameter 300
Load Cell
(mm)
(1-15 kN)
Drop mass 12
(kg) Bearing Plate
Drop height Variable (100mm or 300mm dia.)
(m)
Damper
LWD Plate style
Laboratory Plate diameter 100
(Research) (mm)
Drop mass 4
(kg)
Drop height Variable
(m)
Damper
The equation (Eq. 1) based on the theory of elasticity is used to calculate the deformation modulus of
compacted material.
𝒒𝒓 𝟏% 𝙫𝟐
ELWD = 𝒇𝒓 (1)
𝒘
3
ICCEE 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 419 (2020) 012039 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/419/1/012039
Where, ELWD is the modulus of deformation of pavement layer; fR is the rigid plate factor (taken as
π/2 for a rigid plate); q is the maximum contact pressure; r is the radius of the bearing plate; υ is the
Poisson’s ratio of the soil; and w is the settlement of the bearing plate measured at the centre.
However, in this study, the inbuilt data processor directly shows the central average of deformation
and the average modulus deformation of pavement layer considering three blows of impulse load. The
LWD device consists of the following elements, which are illustrated in figure 1.
• A top fix and release mechanism which holds the falling weight at a constant height. This
mechanism is released to allow the falling weight to free drop and transmit the load pulse
through the plate resting on the material to be tested.
• A guide rod that allows the falling weight to drop free at a set distance of about 720 mm. The
guide rod and falling weight together weigh approximately 15 kg.
• A falling weight grip which provides a grip for the operator to raise the falling weight to the
top fix and release mechanism.
• A falling weight which typically varies between 10 and 20 kg. This weight is capable of being
raised to the bottom of the predetermined grip height. The weight is guided by a low
resistance rod when dropped to impart a controlled force on the loading plate.
• A lock pin which has two positions (locked and unlocked) to release the falling weight for use.
• A damping system, which provides a controlled transient pulse length to the impact force,
typically in the range of 16 to 30ms. The spring element is typically a series of rubber
cones/buffers, or cylindrical pad system.
• An anti-tipping fixture that prevents the guide rod and falling weight from tipping when these
parts are placed and standing freely on the load centre ball/loading plate. A load centre ball
serves as a connector between the anti-tipping fixture and the loading plate. It also allows for
disassembly, which reduces the size of the instrument for transport.
• A cup with a sensor that connects to an electronic device and is installed in the middle of the
plate. It records the movements of the plate even while the test is being carried out.
• Carry grips to assist the operator with carrying the loading plate.
• A loading plate which provides an approximate uniform distribution of the impulse load on
the surface. The diameter typically varies from 100 to 300 mm, and the loading plate weighs
about 5 kg.
• A cable is used to connect the loading plate sensor to the data processing and storage systems.
Each measurement can immediately be allocated to the relevant position using GPS. All data
can be displayed on the electronic printout device without problems.
• An electronic printout device, which is suitable for self-supervision and documentation of
measurements. A data capture system is required with software to display the impact test
results and store them. Additionally, the relevant site and position details can be logged along
with the captured data.
3. Results and discussion
Figure 2 shows the relationship point of experiment with the modulus (falling weight laboratory and
laboratory LWD). Between the FWD and laboratory LWD fields, it can be seen that the graph pattern
formed is similar to the modulus value of 570 MPa, but the LWD modulus value of the laboratory is
greater than the modulus value of the laboratory field. This is due to the falling weight of the smaller
LWD field, which is 8 kg compared to the laboratory LWD, which is 10 kg. However, the modulus of
the LWD field and laboratory can be justified and provides a correlation based on the derivative of the
Boussinesq equation.
Figure 3 shows the relationship point of experiment with deflection (D0). It can be seen that the
deflection value of the FWD is greater than the value of the LWD laboratory. Also visible is the
graphic pattern formed equally between the FWD and laboratory LWD. The resulting deflection value
in the LWD filed ranges from 350 - 450 microns while in the laboratory LWD ranges from 100 - 200
4
ICCEE 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 419 (2020) 012039 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/419/1/012039
microns. In addition, the two parameters of stiffness, modulus and deflection, have proven Boussinesq
theory.
600
550
500
450
Modulus (MPa)
400
350
300
250
200
150
100 FWD
50 Laboratory LWD
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Point of Experiment
Figure 2. Relationship point of experiment with modulus.
600
550
500
450
400
Deflection (Do)
350
300
250
200
150
100
D0 FWD
50 D0 Laboratory LWD
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Point of Experiment
Figure 3. Relationship point of experiment with deflection.
From the experimental results held at the Road and Bridge Research Center
Hall of Refinement (PUSJATAN) Ministry of PUPR Bandung, the data obtained with the following:
• Comparison between the average deflection (D0) value produced between FWD and laboratory
LWD was 3.474, which means :
5
ICCEE 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 419 (2020) 012039 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/419/1/012039
FWD D0 = 3.474 D0 laboratory LWD (2)
• Comparison between the average surface modulus (E) value generated between FWD and
laboratory LWD was 0.888, which means :
E FWD = 0.888 E laboratory LWD (3)
• Comparison between the average voltage (τ) produced between FWD and laboratory LWD against
1.588, which means :
τ Field LWD = 1.588 τ laboratory LWD (4)
Where the surface impact load comparison, the FWD gas a measured load (using a load cell) of ±
4000 kg while the laboratory LWD has a measured load on the surface of 470 kg. If you want to
compare impact loads, then:
F FWD = 8.511 F laboratory LWD (5)
4. Conclusion
At present, one of the most rapid concentrations of physical development in infrastructure is the
construction of roads, especially roads with national road status. Recently, the nondestructive testing
methods are gained acceptance and recommendation in road construction and evaluation practices for
Indonesian highways as the rapid control of compacted soil bearing capacity.
5. Acknowledgements
This research supported Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing’s Institute of Road
Engineering, Agency for Research and Development office of road and bridge (Pusjatan) has
developed LWD device that used in this present study.
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IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 419 (2020) 012039 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/419/1/012039
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