Construction Management Method for Asphalt Paving Using Ground Penetrating Radar and an Infrared Camera

Abstract

PURPOSES : The objective of this study is to propose a quality control and quality assurance method for use during asphalt pavement construction using non-destructive methods, such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) and an infrared (IR) camera. METHODS : A 1.0 GHz air-coupled GPR system was used to measure the thickness and in situ density of asphalt concrete overlay during the placement and compaction of the asphalt layer in two test construction sections. The in situ density of the asphalt layer was estimated based on the dielectric constant of the asphalt concrete, which was measured as the ratio of the amplitude of the surface reflection of the asphalt mat to that of a metal plate. In addition, an IR camera was used to monitor the surface temperature of the asphalt mat to ensure its uniformity, for both conventional asphalt concrete and fiber-reinforced asphalt (FRA) concrete. RESULTS : From the GPR test, the measured in situ air void of the asphalt concrete overlay gradually decreased from 12.6% at placement to 8.1% after five roller passes for conventional asphalt concrete, and from 10.7% to 5.9% for the FRA concrete. The thickness of the asphalt concrete overlay was reduced from 7.0 cm to 6.0 cm for the conventional material, and from 9.2 cm to 6.4 cm for the FRA concrete. From the IR camera measurements, the temperature differences in the asphalt mat ranged from to in the two test sections. CONCLUSIONS : During asphalt concrete construction, GPR and IR tests can be applicable for monitoring the changes in in situ density, thickness, and temperature differences of the overlay, which are the most important factors for quality control. For easier and more reliable quality control of asphalt overlay construction, it is better to use the thickness measurement from the GPR.