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(PC-1500) Benkelman Beam
02-19-2022, 03:54 PM
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(PC-1500) Benkelman Beam
An excerpt from Use of Pocket Computers for Rehabilitation of Rural Roads in Dominica , Transportation Research Record 997, 1984, pgs. 90-98.

" ABSTRACT

A 50-km rural road that connects Roseau-Pont Casse and Hatton Garden in Dominica was evaluated by means of the Benkelman beam in February 1983. The rebound deflection basin obtained under a dual-wheel axle load was interpreted by means of a pocket computer with 8-K RAM. The subgrade modulus, subgrade California bearing ratio, base modulus, asphalt modulus, and the required asphalt concrete overlay were calculated for each point while performing the nondestructive testing (NDT) survey. Although measurement of deflection basins with the Benkelman beam is not common practice, satisfactory results were obtained. A team composed of the truck driver and his assistant, an experienced engineer and his assistant, and two traffic control men was able to measure 8O to 100 deflection basins, or about 10 km of road, in a typical working day. By using the pocket computer, all calculations, including the overlay thickness of each tested point, can be completed in about 1 min. Therefore, the road rehabilitation design can be completed while conducting the NDT. In Dominica both the NDT and the strengthening design of the 50-km road were done simultaneously and completed in 1 week. The detailed methodology and computer programs are presented in this paper. The program is based on the theory of linear elastic systems and written in BASIC language. It can be easily adjusted and implemented with other nondestructive pavement evaluation devices such as the road rater or the falling weight deflectometer.


This rational procedure was implemented in Dominica by means of a pocket computer (Sharp PC-1500) to upgrade 50 km of low-volume road between Roseau-Pont Casse and Hatton Garden (see Figure 1). The computer program (Figure 2) is written in the BASIC language and can be implemented on any personal or pocket computer that has 8-K RAM. Because the program is based on the theory of the linear elastic system, it can be easily adjusted and used with other nondestructive pavement evaluation devices such as the road rater (pavement profiler) or the falling weight deflectometer.

BENKELMAN BEAM DEFLECTION PROCEDURE

The Benkelman beam is a widely used device to measure surface deflections in all types of pavement structures. … "

THOROUGH DOCUMENTATION!!

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