Deflection characteristics for flexible road and aiport pavements in Kenya
Abstract
As traffic traverses a flexible pavement the axle loads induce a downward deflection of the
pavement surface. The pavement however, bounces back as soon as the load passes a
section. This downward deflection is measured by tracing the profile of the surface behind
loaded wheels of a vehicle moving at creep speed. The magnitude of this deflection has been
related to the strength of the pavement and has therefore been used for the assessment of
pavement structural condition. This paper reports findings of deflection measurements on low
and high volume road pavements and airport pavements in Kenya.