Introduction

The Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) is a non-destructive deflection-measuring device for assessing the structural condition of road pavements, airfields, ports and other structures. The UK and Ireland FWD Group was established in early 1998.

The group meets regularly to discuss technical matters relating to the use of the FWD and provides a forum for the national highway authorities, the equipments users and the manufacturers to discuss developments.

2010 United Kingdom and Ireland Falling Weight Deflectometer Correlation Trials

The correlation trial for Falling Weight Deflectometer machines to be used on Trunk Roads in the United Kingdom and National Roads in Ireland took place  at the new test locations on the MIRA test track near Birmingham on the 11^th and 12th October 2011. The Group meeting took place the following day, Thursday the 13^th November. A total of eighteen machines took place in the Correlation Trials from all of the Group Members in the UK and Ireland. The machine types ranged from the standard FWD machines through to the heavier HWD and SHWD machines. There were machines from both manufacturers supplying in the UK marketplace Dynatest and Grontmij. The results of the correlation trials will be published in the next few months by the TRL.