|
thomas.potgieter@lonrix.com Administrator Posts: 5
10/1/2020
|
The Automated Backcalculation Deflection Tool allows for the automated backcalculation of layer stiffnesses from Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) data. This tool also incorporates built-in reporting and statistical analysis features.
Getting Started
The Automated Backcalculation Deflection Tool is accessed through the Deflection Analysis icon on the Rubicon Toolbox Online Tools.
If this is the first time you are using the Online Tools, you will need to set up a project by clicking on the Manage Projects link and create a new project. Alternatively, you can use an existing project if one has already been created.
Once you have created a new project or selected an existing project, click on the Deflection Analysis icon and select Automated Backcalc from the list. An Automated Backcalculation analysis page will open.
To start, download the example template, enter the relevant data and save the template.
The Excel Template contains sheets for Data, Thickness, Interpretation and Notes. The template needs to be completed exactly as indicated, detailed notes are provided within the template as guidance.
The extract from the Data sheet shows the sensor positions, D0, D200 etc. These offset positions are the positions of the actual sensors, and can be changed to suit your sensor positions. If you have more than 9 sensors, you can add more columns and the software will stop reading when an empty column is read. The software reads these headings to obtain the sensor positions. It is therefore imperative to check that the number of sensors and offsets represent the actual configuration used during testing.
The Thickness sheet makes provision for 5 layers (including the Upper Subgrade; excluding the semi-infinite Lower Subgrade). Note that the number of layers defined at each Station must be the same throughout.
As indicated in the steps to follow, the online module will prompt you to select an appropriate sheet to use. You may therefore create more than one thickness sheet option, e.g. Thickness (2), which may be used for running different layer configuration setups using the same input file. Remember to adjust or create an interpretation sheet with the same number of layers as defined in the new thickness setup if used.
Running the Analysis
Once you have completed the template, proceed to complete the analysis.
 
The default average error per sensor is 10%. A lower value can be selected and will increase the running time.
All deflection points will be analysed if the default station range at the bottom of the window is left unchanged. You can, however, analyse only a section by selecting the begin and end stations under consideration e.g. matching a uniform section, or to speed up running time if the focus is on a shorter section.
Thicknesses are ignored (thickness setting options inactive) if you imported layer thicknesses as part of the data selection process i.e. if you selected the Thicknesses sheet, from the template.
If you selected Not Applicable for your Thicknesses, the thickness settings options will become active and you will be able to manually add or delete layers and populate the thickness column.
Once your backcalculation run has completed, the results will display on-screen in a table format.
 
Note, for a new analysis, the Save option is initially inactive. Once an analysis is saved for the first time, the save option becomes active. For overwriting an existing saved analysis, click on Save. To save as an alternative analysis, click on Save As. Alternatively you can clone your analysis, from the Online Tools page, and rename it as needed.
Reporting
The report can be copied to the clipboard by right clicking on the report and selecting Copy image or Save image as. The image can then be inserted into a document of your choice (Word, Excel etc.).
Statistical Summary
The statistical summary can be copied to the clipboard by right clicking on the summary and selecting Copy image or Save image as. The image can then be inserted into a document of your choice (Word, Excel etc.)
edited by on 10/8/2020
edited by on 11/20/2020
edited by on 12/10/2020
edited by on 12/11/2020
edited by on 12/24/2020
edited by on 7/16/2021
edited by on 3/21/2023
edited by on 10/20/2023
|