ASTM E2583-07 (R2020) PDF Download

ASTM E2583-07 (R2020) is a standard test method that describes the measurement of deflections on paved and unpaved surfaces using a Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD), also known as a Portable Falling-Weight Deflectometer (PFWD). The test method involves applying an impulse load to the surface and measuring the resulting deflections at the center of the load and at various distances away from it.

The purpose of this test method is to determine surface deflections, which can be used for various purposes such as quality control and assurance of compacted layers, evaluation of load-carrying capacity, and determination of thickness requirements for highway and airfield pavements. The test data obtained from the LWD can also be used to determine the in-situ material characteristics of the pavement layers.

Two important considerations when interpreting LWD test data are highlighted in the standard. Firstly, since pavement and subgrade materials may be stress dependent, the applied stress during the test should closely match the stress value applied by the design wheel load at the pavement surface. Secondly, the volume of materials affected by the load is dependent on its magnitude, so caution must be exercised when analyzing the results, as the LWD data may represent a smaller volume of materials compared to that influenced by a heavy moving wheel load.