1.
0 Introduction:
The section of the road in IMT Manesar is a two lane road carrying heavy commercial traffic on both
sides. The existing road structure is evaluated through Benkelman Beam Deflection technique and the
overlay for the existing road is proposed using BBD test as per IRC 81: 1997 - Guidelines for
Strengthening of flexible road pavements using Benkelman Beam Deflection technique.
2.0 Soil condition:
The soil under the pavement structure is tested and the results are furnished below. This data is used
in determination of moisture/seasonal correction factor in overlay design.
Moisture content = 4.51%
Liquid limit = 25%
Plastic Limit = 19%
Plasticity index = 6
3.0 Benkelman Beam Deflection Test:
This method is used to know the deflection of the pavement which is inturn used in determining the
overlay thickness for an existing flexible pavement
Equipment used in the survey:
1) Thermometer
2) Auger
3) Mandrel
4) Glycerol
5) Truck
6) Benkelman Beam
7) Dial gauge
8) Tape
Three types of data are required for knowing the deflection.:
1. Temperature data:
The standard temperature for doing the experiment is 35°C. Since it is not possible to conduct the test
at the standard temperature, a correction factor has to be applied for the deflection. The correction
factor is determined by knowing the temperature at the time of the survey. If the depth of the BT
surface is more than 40mm, then correction factor has to be applied for the deflection. The correction
factor is determined by knowing the temperature at the time of the survey. If the depth is less i.e if it is
a thin bituminous surfacing like premix carpet and surface dressing, then no correction is required.
The procedure for determining the temperature is given below.
a) A hole has to be drilled into the pavement with the help of a mandrel. The depth of the hole is
45 mm and the diameter of the hole at the top is 1.25 cm and at the bottom is 1 cm.
b) The hole has to be filled with glycerol and the temperature has to be recorded after 5 minutes
with the thermometer (range of temperature between 0-100°) with 1o division.
c) The temperature readings have to be measured for every hour during the survey.
2. Soil data:
Deflection measurements should be made during the monsoons when the pavement is in its weakest
condition. Hence a correction for seasonal variation has to be applied for the deflection which is a
function of the soil subgrade. The data required is :
i. Average annual rainfall in that area,
ii. Soil classification - sandy/ gravelly, clayey with low plasticity and clayey with high plasticity.
iii. Field moisture content.
Hence the soil tests that have to be conducted are Moisture content test. Sieve analysis (for soil
classification) and Atterberg limit tests (for Determination of Pl value).
3. Truck specifications for conducting the test.
Rear axle weight of the truck = 8170 kg
Tyre pressure = 5.6 kg/cm2
Spacing between the tyre walls = 30-40 mm.
Procedure for conducting the test :
1. Pavement condition survey has to be done for dividing the road sections into uniform sections
2. Minimum of 10 points have to be selected. In each road section of uniform performance
minimum of ten points should be marked at equal distance in each lane of traffic for making
the deflection measurements in the outer wheel path. The interval between the points should
not be more than 50 m.
3. The point on the pavement to be tested is selected and marked. For highways, the point
should be located 60 cm from the pavement edge if the lane width is less than 3.5 m and 90
cm from the pavement edge for wider lanes. For divided four lane highway, the measurement
points should be 1.5 m from the pavement edge.
4. The dual wheels of the truck are centered above the selected point.
5. The probe of the Benkelman beam is inserted between the duals and placed on the selected
point
6. The locking pin is removed from the beam and the legs are adjusted so that the plunger of the
beam is in contact with the stem of the dial gauge. The beam pivot arms are checked for free
movement
7. The dial gauge is set at approximately 1 cm. the initial reading is recorded when the rate of
deformation of the pavement is equal or less than 0.025 mm/min
8. The truck is slowly driven a distance of 270 cm and stopped.
9. An intermediate reading is recorded when the rate of recovery of the pavement is equal or
less than 0.025 mm/min
10. The truck is driven forward a further 9m
11. The final reading is recorded when the rate of recovery of pavement is equal to or less than
0.025mm/min
12. pavement temperature is recorded at least once every hour inserting thermometer in the
standard hole and filling up the hole with glycerol.
13. The tyre pressure is checked at two or three hour intervals during the day and adjusted to the
standard, if necessary.
4.0 Overlay design Calculations:
1) If Dintermediate-DFinal ≤ 0.025 mm and Dinitial - DFinal ≤0.025 mm
Actual deflection (XT) = 2 (Dinitial-DFinal)
2) If Dinitial - DFinal> 0.025 mm,
Actual deflection XT = XA +2.91 Y
= 2(Dinitial-DFinal) +2.91 [2 (DFinal~Dintermediate)].
3) Rebound deflection = 2 x XT
4) Correction for temperature:
The stiffness of bituminous layers changes with temperature of the binder and consequently the
surface deflections of a given pavement will vary depending on the temperature of the constituent
bituminous layers. Correction for temperature variation on deflection values measured at temperature
other than 35 °C should be 0.01 mm for each degree centigrade change from the standard temperature
of 35 °C. The correction will be positive for pavement temperature lower than 35 °C and negative for
pavement temperature higher than 35 °C.
5) Correction for seasonal variation:
The correction for seasonal variation is determined from the graph below.
The deflection values corrected for temperature shall be multiplied by the appropriate values of
seasonal correction factors to obtain corrected values of deflection.
4. Mean deflection = x̅ = Ʃ x/n
5. Standard deviation = σ = sqrt (Ʃ(x-x̅)2/n-1)
6. Characteristic Deflection = Dc= x̅+2 σ = For NH and SH (Major Road)
Dc= x̅+σ = For other Road
