Detection of Dynamic Modulus and Crack Properties of Asphalt Pavement Using a Non-Destructive Ultrasonic Wave Method

Weiguang Zhang,Shuguang Hou,Dong Zhang,Qiqi Le,Muhammad Arfan Akber,Jiang Bian

doi:10.3390/app9152946

Weiguang Zhang, Shuguang Hou + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app9152946

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Journal: Applied Sciences	Publication Date: Jul 24, 2019
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Southeast University, Nanjing Tech University

Abstract

Non-destructive ultrasonic testing has attained popularity due to its robustness and cost-effectiveness in monitoring the structural health and performance evaluation of pavements, thus replacing traditional methods. This paper presents the application of an explicit finite element method for the modeling of ultrasonic wave propagation through asphalt concrete. Prior to modeling, non-destructive ultrasonic testing was conducted on four different types of asphalt concrete (AC-13, SMA-13, AC-20, and AM-20). Based on acoustic information (wave velocity) obtained in non-destructive testing (NDT) and density, the dynamic moduli of these asphalt concretes were evaluated and used in numerical modeling of ultrasonic wave propagation using the commercial software package ABAQUS. The ultrasonic wave results obtained by numerical modeling were compared with experimental results. This comparison showed a good fit between the finite element (FE) results and the experimental results and confirmed a good FE approach for ultrasonic wave propagation. In addition, the influence of varying dynamic moduli, density, varying location, and crack size/depth on ultrasonic wave propagation was analyzed.

Highlights

Traditional methods for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of pavement are usually costly, as core samples are drilled and shipped to a laboratory to test the corresponding performance.To avoid tedious work and detriment to the pavement by coring, non-destructive testing (NDT)techniques can be applied as a replacement, such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), spectral analysis of surface wave (SASW), and ultrasonic testing technology (UT)
Techniques can be applied as a replacement, such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), spectral analysis of surface wave (SASW), and ultrasonic testing technology (UT)
Ultrasonic testing technology is one of the most widely used non-destructive testing methods, in which ultrasonic waves are excited by an ultrasonic transducer, propagated through a medium, and received by the transducer at the other end

Summary

Introduction

Traditional methods for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of pavement are usually costly, as core samples are drilled and shipped to a laboratory to test the corresponding performance.To avoid tedious work and detriment to the pavement by coring, non-destructive testing (NDT)techniques can be applied as a replacement, such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), spectral analysis of surface wave (SASW), and ultrasonic testing technology (UT). Traditional methods for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of pavement are usually costly, as core samples are drilled and shipped to a laboratory to test the corresponding performance. To avoid tedious work and detriment to the pavement by coring, non-destructive testing (NDT). Ultrasonic testing technology is one of the most widely used non-destructive testing methods, in which ultrasonic waves are excited by an ultrasonic transducer, propagated through a medium, and received by the transducer at the other end. These elastic waves include longitudinal and shear waves. Like amplitude, wave velocity, and wave frequency, are directly related to the mechanical properties of the medium [1]

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