Optimization of Operating Parameters of the Asphalt-Paver Vibration-Screed System in Improving Compaction Efficiency and Pavement Quality for Driving Vehicle Performance

Abstract

<div>The operating parameters of the asphalt-paver vibration-screed system (AP-VSS) including the excitation frequencies of the tampers and vibratory screed (<i>f<sub>t</sub> </i> and <i>f<sub>s</sub> </i>) and the angular deviations of the tampers (<i>α</i> <sub>1</sub> and <i>α</i> <sub>2</sub>) affect not only the pavement quality but also compaction efficiency. Based on the dynamic model of the AP-VSS and the interaction model of the tamper and hot-mixed asphalt, the experimental and numerical simulation studies of AP-VSS are performed to analyze in detail the influence of operating parameters of the AP-VSS on AP-VSS pavement quality and compaction efficiency. The maximum value of the root-mean-square acceleration (<i>a<sub>r.m.s</sub> </i>) of the AP-VSS and the maximum value of the root-mean-square compaction force (<i>F<sub>r.m.s</sub> </i>) of the tampers are selected as the objective functions. The experimental and simulation results indicate that by using the AP-VSS design parameters, the pavement quality and compaction efficiency of the AP-VSS are quite low. To enhance the AP-VSS performance, the operation parameters are then optimized by the multi-objective optimization algorithm. The optimal result shows that the compression energy of the tampers and hot-mixed asphalt interaction is greatly increased by 36.2% in comparison without the optimization. Concurrently, both the values of <i>a<sub>r.m.s</sub> </i> and <i>F<sub>r.m.s</sub> </i> are also increased and uniformly distributed over the length of the screed floor and surface of the hot-mixed asphalt in comparison without the optimization. Therefore, the pavement quality and compaction efficiency of the AP-VSS are remarkably improved.</div>