LWD Fundamentals
12th Annual Minnesota Paving
Conference
February 14, 2008
St. Paul, Minnesota
Rebecca Embacher
Mn/DOT
Office of Materials
Topics
Testing for Compaction
LWD Operation
LWD Calibration
2105 Excavation and Embankment – LWD Quality
Compaction
LWD Technology Transfer Workshop
Testing for Compaction
Uniformity is the Priority
Traditionally (Empirical
Design, Trial/
Trial Error Based)
Specify Relative Density
Specify Moisture Limits
Test Rolling for some projects
Future (Mechanistic Design,
Stiffness Based)
Intelligent Compaction Equipment Uniformity is the goal
Moisture Limits
DCP Strength, LWD Stiffness, or
Test Rolling
Why Use Mechanistic Field Tests?
Achieve agreement between construction quality
assurance and pavement design.
Quantify alternative materials and innovative
construction practices.
Show economic benefit of improved materials in terms
of longer pavement life.
Reward good construction practices.
Density Testing Issues
Small Sample that is Labor
Intensive
Significant Lab Time
Optimum Moisture for
Compaction
Strength May Not be Achieved
Rutting Due to Moisture and
Construction Traffic
LWD Operation
Summary of Test Method
(ASTM E2583-07)
Type of plate-bearing test.
Load: Force pulse
Vertical movement (deflection) is
measured.
The peak deflection and
estimated elastic modulus is
recorded.
Mn/DOT Standard LWD Configuration
Mn/DOT currently
supports the Zorn,
ZFG2000 model.
Drop Height:
See Calibration Certificate/Plate
Falling Weight:
10 kg (22 lb)
Loading Plate Diameter:
200 mm (8 in)
Schematic Courtesy of Zorn
Light Weight Deflectometer
Video
~ 4 minutes in length
LWD Calibration
Calibration by Test Institute
Recommended Intervals:
Annually
10,000 measurement, but at
least in every 2nd yr.
Measure stress under the
load plate
Standard Pressure = 0.20 MPa
Force = 6.28 kN
Drop Height = 54 cm
Load / Plate = 10 kg / 200 mm
On-Site Verification Testing
Objective:
To determine the
repeatability of
deflection
measurements under
defined conditions.
On-Site Verification Testing (cont.)
Frequency
(Re-) Commissioning
Annually
Not repeatable
Environment
Room temperature
Batteries fully charged.
On-Site Verification Facility
Unaltered over time
Concrete Foundation
Verification Pads
ON-SITE ZORN LWD VERIFICATION TESTING
Verification Testing (cont.)
Operator Name:
Test Date:
LWD Serial Number:
General Testing Protocol VERIFICATION PAD CONFIGURATION
1 2 3
VERIFICATION PAD NUMBER
Preload / Seat Variable Drop # Output Designation #1 #4 #4 / #3
Temperature (oC)
Unaltered Load Plates Relative Humidity (%)
9 load pulses 3 Seating Drops Completed (√)
1 S1
2 S2
Deflection (mm)
3 S3
Acceptance Average (S)
Modulus (Evd) Average (Evd)
Smax – Smin ≤ 0.04 mm 4 S1
| Smean - | ≤ 0.02 mm Deflection (mm)
5
6
S2
S3
| Si – Smean @ calibration| ≤ 0.02 mm Average (S)
Modulus (Evd) Average (Evd)
Calibration considered when 7 S1
above criteria not met. Deflection (mm)
8 S2
9 S3
Average (S)
Modulus (Evd) Average (Evd)
Extra measurements if problems encountered during a previous set of measurements.
10 S1
11 S2
Deflection (mm)
12 S3
Average (S)
Modulus (Evd) Average (Evd)
2105 Excavation and
Embankment –
LWD Quality Compaction
(2007/2008 Pilot Specification)
Performance Based Specifications
Mn/DOT Specification 2105 Excavation & Embankment
Duluth and Bemidji Districts
Support from Mn/DOT IC Task Force
Implemented in 2006
http://www.mrr.dot.state.mn.us/pavement/GradingandBase
Control Strip (Roadbed Embankment)
Objective: LWD compaction target value
Constructed for each:
Type and/or source of soil
Observable variations
) Not-Limited to: gradation, texture, silt & clay content, moisture
content
Incorporated into final embankment.
300 ft long and 32 ft wide
Total Thickness
Planned thickness
4 ft maximum
(Roadbed Embankment)
Control Strip (cont.)
65 and 95% of OMC or EOMC
LWD Testing
6 drops without moving plate.
E4 + E5 + E6
LWD-TV =
3
Testing Frequency
Between each compaction pass
Minimum of 3 locations
25 ft spacing
(Roadbed Embankment)
Control Strip (cont.)
LWD-TV
Optimum Modulus Value
1 ft increments to 4 ft.
Value at 4 ft used for portions in excess of 4 ft.
(Roadbed Embankment)
Acceptance
Testing Lot
1000 ft length
Embankment Width
1 ft increments
Minimum 3 / nominal vertical
increment / testing lot
Acceptance
Ei ≥ 0.90*LWD-TV
) Corrections as needed
) Re-test
Ei > 1.20*LWD-TV
) Re-evaluate LWD-TV selection
) Construct new control strip
(Roadbed Embankment)
2007 Deflection Testing
SP Number District Route Location
6211-11 METRO TH36 Maplewood
3104-51 1 TH2 Grand Rapids
3801-13 1 TH1 Ely
3609-25 1 TH65 Silverdale Bridge Replacement
0916-16 1 TH210 Jay Cooke State Park
5703-42 2 TH32 St. Hilaire to Thief River Falls
7702-42 3A TH10 Staples
0301-47 4 TH10 Detroit Lakes
5305-55 7B TH60 Bigelow
9 Projects
2008 Deflection Testing Projects
SP Number District Route Location
3104-51 1 TH2 Grand Rapids
6915-129 1 TH53 Duluth - Mall Area
6916-99 1 TH53 Cty 8 to Pike Lake
1604-40 1 Grand Portage Rest Area
2901-18 2 TH34 Park Rapids
1105-08 2 TH34 Akeley to Walker
3604-71 2 TH11 Canadian Border
0416-34 2 TH197 Bemidji
~ 17 Projects
7702-42 3A TH10 Staples
8680-157* 3B TH94 Mn/ROAD, Albertville
0301-47 4 TH10 Detroit Lakes
1480-149 4 I94/34th St. Moorhead
4205-35 8 TH19
1202-48 8 TH07 Montevideo
N/A 6B Steel County Project
8103-49 7A TH14 Waseca County
5305-55 7B TH60 Bigelow
Light Weight Deflectometer
Technology Transfer Workshop
Baxter, Minnesota (November 14, 2007)
Attendees: Project & Resident Engineers,
Inspectors, Materials Engineer
Positive Characteristics
Quick and Easy
Inspector Remains on Grade
Made Contractor more aware of what is needed for
acceptance
Better understanding of water content and processes.
Improved Uniformity
Improved over DCP
Quicker
Contractor better understands results
Reliable Measurements
(e.g., 199 LWD tests out of ~ 200 matched those of the DCP).
Technology Transfer Comments
Troubles / Concerns
Difficult portability in utility
trenches.
Can be a 2 person job.
Not “light” weight.
Water table can be drawn up and affect results.
Set up of soil (soil curing) / bridging. Need to remove
crust on clay prior to testing.
LWD will move if sand is too wet and sloped.
Need to level plate.
Unable to obtain consistent LWD results with only 1 ft
of sand above grade. Technology Transfer Comments
Quantitative Results
Able to find deeper soft layers.
Able to obtain better results near structures.
Did not notice significant effect from mild skew of
testing surface.
Side-by-Side LWD & Sand Cone Testing: pass/fail
correlated.
Achieved similar modulus values after 3 ft and up.
Technology Transfer Comments
Moisture Effects
Need to obtain relatively uniform moisture.
Variable soils change optimum moisture content.
First control moisture then establish LWD target value.
Need adequate moisture content to get passing LWD
readings.
Moisture tested with both the Speedy and Burn
Method. Results within 1 percent.
Technology Transfer Comments
QC Contractor Responsibility
Moisture testing and
control was a continual
battle.
Contractor personnel are
interested and asking for
LWD values.
Contractor is learning that scrapers should be run in
different spots to achieve passing values compaction).
Technology Transfer Comments
Testing Procedures
LWD to determine rolling pattern in trenches.
Difficult to carry LWD in trenches.
Used LWD for spot checks.
Focus more on moisture content and lift thicknesses.
Ensured that moisture content remained the same after
determination of rolling pattern.
QA Procedure:
1st test moisture
Moisture Fails ⇒ Inspector does not “waste time” performing LWD
testing.
Full scrapers often run over site to help achieve density.
Testing at “time of compaction” – Contractor should
not be delayed.
Test soft areas every 300 to 400 ft.
Technology Transfer Comments
Changes Next Year
Procedures need to be flexible, but balanced with the
ability to enforce.
Test on “surface” of aggregate base.
Control strips need to be eliminated.
Better if “over-built” and then dug down for testing
with some confinement.
Technology Transfer Comments
Questions?
Scope of Discussions
Positive Characteristics
Troubles/Concerns
Quantitative Results
Moisture Effects
QC Contractor Responsibility
Testing Procedures
Changes for Next Year
Scope of Discussions
Presentation: Dr. Fleming
“Experience with LWD for
Routine In Situ Assessment
of Foundation Stiffness”
Presentation: Dr. White
“Mn/DOT Intelligent
Compaction Implementation
Seminar #4: Lessons
Learned from IC and LWD
Testing”
Typical Zorn LWD Values
Soil Type LWD Modulus (MPa)
Sand w/ Silt 20-30
Silty gravel w/ sand 30-35
Silty sand w/ gravel 30-35
Poorly graded gravel 40-45
Silty sand 15-20
Clayey gravel 30-40
Well graded sand w/ silt 25-35
