Deflection Bowl Analyzer

The process of backcalculating pavement layer stiffnesses from Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) or Benkelman Beam deflections is notoriously sensitive to the analysis approach and assumptions. This problem can be addressed to some extent by first performing manual backcalculations (for which the engineer has full control over the search process) at selected locations within a project. Typically such locations would be next to trial pits, where layer thicknesses and material type information are available in greater detail. Results obtained at such locations can then be used to provide a general idea of the expected material stiffnesses under loading, which can serve to guide the automated backcalculation process to greater accuracy.

The Rubicon Toolbox Bowl Analyzer allows engineers to perform an in-depth analysis of a specific deflection bowl. This tool is ideal for manual backcalculation at specific locations within a project where greater control and precision is required in the backcalculation process. Deflections and pavement structure data are imported into the Bowl Analyzer from Microsoft Excel. At each bowl position, measured and calculated deflections are plotted and summarized. Users can change layer stiffnesses and re-calculate the deflection bowl until a satisfactory agreement between measured and calculated deflection bowls is achieved.

Once manual backcalculations have been completed for all bowls, the result set can be exported to Excel again for further analysis. The Bowl Analyzer also allows users to print or copy-and-paste a detailed deflection bowl report for individual bowls. This report summarizes the layer thicknesses and material types, and also shows the measured and calculated deflection bowls graphically. The report is customizable with the user's own company logo, layer legends, page titles, etc.

Frequent upgrades are planned for the Bowl Analyzer Tool, to ensure the modelling techniques remain abreast with new technology developments.

Key Features

• Utilizes the fast and well-validated WESLEA multi-layer elastic module for deflection bowl calculations;

• Can accommodate both FWD and Benkelman Beam Load Configurations;

• Import deflections and pavement structure information from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet template;

• Handles up to three pavement layers, in addition to an upper and lower subgrade model. An easy- to-use graphical interface guides the process;

• Subdivided subgrade allows modeling of non-linear subgrade effects as well as shallow subgrade situations;

• Graphical display of measured and calculated deflection bowls ensure manual backcalculation is easy and intuitive to perform;

• Save the result set by exporting to Microsoft Excel, from where it can be further analyzed;

• Obtain a neat, one-page report for individual deflection bowls;

• Allows customization of Engineering Units to display on reports and on screen;
• Backed by MAS's efficient and personalized customer support.

Pricing

Please see our Price List for details.

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Last modified: 04/08/08