Static and Dynamic Backcalculation Analyses of an inverted pavement structure

A crucial part of any maintenance strategy is an intricate understanding of the material characteristics of the pavement, so that the current level of damage may be accurately assessed and an appropriate plan implemented. Advances in the precision to which these parameters can be determined, as well as improvements in how these results are interpreted under varying conditions of measurement and analysis, are essential in the effective execution of a maintenance strategy. Results from Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), which is a Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) device, can be used to predict elastic modulus of any layer by comparing measured deflection data to calculated values through an iterative process referred to as back-calculation. This paper presents a comparison between static and dynamic back-calculation procedures, specifically with regard to typical South African inverted pavements. The analysis indicates a dynamic analysis provides results of greater accuracy than a static analysis, although the effect of the difference requires further investigation.