Effects of Slab Temperature Profiles on Use of Falling Weight Deflectometer Data to Monitor Joint Performance and Detect Voids

The primary objective of this research effort is to determine if temperature gradients affect the ability to use falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing to monitor pavement joint performance and detect voids under the corners of the slab. A field investigation was performed at the Minnesota Road Research System test facility to meet this objective. It was found that gradients can have an effect on the results of FWD testing for rigid pavements. Although the load transfer efficiencies measured for doweled slabs were not found to be affected by slab temperature or temperature gradients (even when poor joint performance was exhibited), load transfer efficiencies measured for the undoweled slabs were greatly influenced by the presence of a gradient. There even appears to be a higher correlation between the gradient present at the time of testing and the average temperature of the slab for the pavement designs and environmental conditions included in this study. Gradients present at the time of testing also affect the ability to detect voids beneath the slab. Large positive gradients produced negative void parameters (indicating that a void was not present), whereas large negative gradients produced large positive void parameters (indicating that a void was present). This study found that loss of support under the slab could be identified even when the joints were locked if gradients were not present. On the basis of these findings, it is important to determine the complete temperature profile throughout the depth of the slab at the time of testing so that this information can be considered when the deflection data are interpreted.