Deflection characteristics for flexible road and aiport pavements in Kenya

Abstract

As traffic traverses a flexible pavement the axle loads induce a downward deflection of the pavement surface. The pavement however, bounces back as soon as the load passes a section. This downward deflection is measured by tracing the profile of the surface behind loaded wheels of a vehicle moving at creep speed. The magnitude of this deflection has been related to the strength of the pavement and has therefore been used for the assessment of pavement structural condition. This paper reports findings of deflection measurements on low and high volume road pavements and airport pavements in Kenya.