PRECISION OF HIGH-SPEED INERTIAL PROFILERS FOR ASPHALT PAVEMENT SMOOTHNESS MEASUREMENTS

摘要

The Florida Department of Transportation conducted a study to assess the precision and accuracyof its High-Speed Inertial Profilers (HSIPs) used for evaluating the smoothness of asphaltpavements. Eight HSIPs and six asphalt test sections including three dense-graded and three open5graded were included in the study. Profiler agreement in terms of repeatability and reproducibilitywas rated using the International Roughness Index (IRI). Profiler agreement in terms ofrepeatability, reproducibility, and accuracy was also assessed using the profile cross-correlationmethod. A SurPRO 3500 was used as a reference device for the HSIPs accuracy evaluation. Alaser tracking device was evaluated as a possible operational improvement technique. Themaximum IRI variability at a 95% confidence level within a single HSIP was less than 3.5inch/mile, and 2.0 inch/mile for open graded and dense-graded pavements, respectively. Themaximum IRI variability at a 95% confidence level between any two HSIPs was less than 5.8inch/mile and 3.8 inch/mile for open graded and dense-graded pavements, respectively. The HSIPsrepeated and reproduced the IRI measurements well for all test sections and surfaces. The HSIPsdemonstrated the highest profile repeatability, reproducibility, and accuracy on the dense-gradedmedium-smooth surface and the lowest results on the open-graded medium-smooth surface.HSIPs repeatability improved by 8% on the average when using a laser tracking device. Theresults also indicate that current and proposed repeatability and accuracy criteria could not be meton most pavements surfaces tested.