Continuous Real Time Measurement of Pavement Quality during Construction.

摘要

Intelligent Compaction has been investigated as a means of improving the quality of asphalt pavements during their construction. The long term performance of an asphalt pavement is directly related to its load bearing capability and is determined by the stiffness achieved during the construction process. Early deterioration of pavements due to rutting, fatigue cracking and other types of distresses can be traced to inadequate stiffness. While dependence of pavement performance on stiffness is well known, this parameter is rarely measured during construction of the pavements. Instead, current quality control in the field during the construction of asphalt pavements focuses on the measurement of density of the finished pavement at specific locations. In this research project, the use of OUs Intelligent Asphalt Compaction Analyzer (IACA) in determining the modulus of the entire pavement under construction is demonstrated. The ability to continuously monitor the modulus of the pavement will help identify and address improper compaction during construction. Low stiffness resulting from inadequate compaction can be addressed while the asphalt mat is still hot and pliable thereby leading to longer lasting roads. The IACA-based approach for estimating the stiffness of the pavement during construction is shown to be a cost effective technique for assessing the quality, and it provides a means to improve the overall quality of asphalt pavements during construction.