Pre-Implementation of Infrared and Ground-Penetrating Radar Technologies for Improving Asphalt Mixture Quality

Abstract

In this project, researchers performed pre-implementation of infrared (IR) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technologies for measuring uniformity and promoting quality of asphalt mixture paving. The project team coordinated with industry to streamline the processes required for using GPR in this application, developed draft procedures for both IR and GPR technologies, and conducted pilot projects with the Virginia and Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation. The pilot projects demonstrated that both IR and GPR provide a useful full-coverage view of the paving operation. Each pilot project employed a warm-mix asphalt (WMA) technology as a compaction aid. These pilot project results suggested that the significance and acceptance criteria of thermal segregation may need more reevaluation with WMA. The utility of GPR was realized on all pilot projects, where the radar results provided quantitative assessment of density and uniformity. A new radar system developed specifically for uniformity assessment of asphalt mixtures achieved significant advances in the state of the practice with radar. This report presents the pilot project results, draft standard specifications for both IR and GPR, and conclusions on how these technologies could be used in construction specifications.