HEAVY WEIGHT DEFLECTOMETER

INTRODUCTION

This equipment is used for testing the deflections on the highway and the airport. It has
similarities with the falling weight deflectometer.With an expanded loading range, simulating
heavy aircraft such as the Boeing 747 (one wheel), the HWD can properly introduce
anticipated load / deflection measurements on even heavy pavements such as airfields and
very thick highway pavements.The wider loading range also proveodes the consultant with a
load.

PROCEDURE

1. Its principle consists in applying a transient load to the pavement by dropping a mass
from a given height onto a stationary load plate placed over its surface, through a
buffer system, and analyzing the ensuing dynamic response of the pavement.
2. The load simulates the loading history associated with the pass of an aircraft rolling
wheel.
3. The response of the pavement is assessed through measurement of surface deflections.
4. The latter are continuously measured during the test by means of geophones placed
under the plate and at predetermined locations at the pavement surface.
5. Pavement properties are determined by means of a so-called back calculation
numerical procedure which consist in choosing a mechanical model for the pavement

and identifying the parameters of the model for which theoretical computed
deflections fit at the experimental data set.
6. Then, forward calculations can be performed to determined critical strains in the
structure under specific load.
7. The latter allow estimating the bearing capacity or the remaining life of the studied
structure according to the knowledge of material mechanical performances.

EXAMPLE OF RESULT / DATA

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

1. Advantages

A non-destructive test device

One man operational
Accurate and fast ( up to 60 test points/hr )
Wide loading range HWD : (30-320 kN) Allowing for simulation of new large
Aircraft such as A-380 and B-777
Designed for multi-purpose pavement applications, ranging from unpaved roads to
airfields.
Excellent repeatability
Ideal for mechanistic/analytical design approaches.

2. Disadvantages

Black box - Software not accessible (material properties stress/strain levels, seasonal
factors).
High expertise needed for operation/data management & analysis
Prohibitively expensive
Maintenance problems

CONCLUSION

Airfield pavement bearing strengths were measured using the heavy falling weight
deflectometer (HWD).The Heavy Deflectometer is viewed worldwide as the most appropriate
device to access the bearing capacity of airport pavements.

REFERENCES

http://www.efka.utm.my/thesis
http://www.captg.ca/docs/pdf/HWDTesting.pdf
http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/56/57/57/PDF/phd_MBroutin.pdf