PAVEMENT INSTRUMENTATION IN THE DANISH ROAD TESTING MACHINE: WATER AND BEARING CAPACITY

The Danish Road Testing Machine (RTM) is an indoor installation for investigation of pavement response and performance. It is located at the Technical University of Denmark and owned by the Danish Road Institute. The pavement test facility is of the linear track type applying loads in both direction. In the active test programme focus is on the relation between water saturation and bearing capacity of unbound layers and subgrade. The present instrumentation for response measurements records contact stress, horizontal asphalt strain, vertical stress and vertical strain in unbound layers. Pore water pressure, water content and temperature are also measured. This paper reports experiences from some instrument installation procedures and gives examples of pavement response data from Contact Stress Cells, Asphalt Strain Gauges, Tensiometers, a Depth Moisture/Density Probe and Falling Weight Deflectometer measured under various conditions during the programme.