ABSTRACT
The Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves technique is based on the dispersive nature of surface waves generated and transmitted through a medium and recorded via geophones. This nondestructive technique can be potentially used for in-situ quality control during pavement construction. SASW is investigated in this study to ascertain the technique’s effectiveness to estimate mechanical characteristics in the base layer and subgrade of a pavement under construction. SASW measurements were recorded at multiple locations and for investigative purposes Falling Weight Deflectometer measurements were undertaken along the same test locations. Upon comparison of the calculated material characteristics, deviations were observed between the SASW and FWD back-calculated moduli that are potentially attributed to the varying strain ranges achieved during each technique. Although preliminarily found to be promising, SASW requires additional research to more thoroughly investigate its applicability and effectiveness for pavement quality control purposes, as well as to overcome potential weaknesses detected during the current research.
