Abstract
ABSTRACT Support loss is a concealed distress in Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements. This study proposes a real-time methodology to detect support loss under PCC pavements using structural acceleration responses. Full-scale tests were conducted under different support loss conditions. The sports utility vehicle (SUV), truck, and FWD were used. The results revealed that the main frequency of acceleration signals of PCC slabs under FWD and vehicle loads varied between 20~25 Hz and 10~15 Hz, respectively. When support loss occurs, both the acceleration amplitude and the signal energy within high-frequency range increase. By calculating the signal energy of acceleration response at slab corner (Scor) or longitudinal edge midpoint (Smid), support loss is indicated at slab corner when signal energy at Scor increases by about 90 times or signal energy at Smid increases by about 10 times. Additionally, by calculating the ratio of signal energy within high-frequency range to that within low-frequency range (ER) of acceleration signals at Smid, support loss at slab center is considered to have occurred when ER exceeds 3. To reduce costs, only one sensor can be placed at Smid. The proposed method has advantages of not requiring traffic closure, realizing real-time monitoring, and facilitating intelligent maintenance.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call