Deflection-based approach for design and maintenance of asphalt pavement

The Department of Highways (DOH), Thailand adopted both empirical and mechanistic approaches for the asphalt pavement analysis and design. Recently, a deflection-based design approach has been comprehensively reviewed by the DOH for possible adoption of national design standard and practice. One of the key reasons was that Thailand road authorities considered the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) for the new construction and rehabilitation of road pavement. In addition, the FWD has been widely accepted as the non-destructive test for deflection measurement and structural capacity evaluation. Ultimately, the implication of FWD deflections for in-house pavement analysis and design shall be developed and proposed to Thailand road authorities. Therefore, this study presented the deflection-based approach for design and maintenance of asphalt pavement in Thailand. Results suggested that the asphalt pavement design based on the deflection-based approach was simple, practical, and conservative.