STUDY OF VOID DETECTION METHODS AND SLAB STABILIZATION PROCEDURES

This report covers the evaluation of static deflection testing, Falling Weight Deflection (FWD) testing, and a short-pulse radar system (Penetradar Inc.) for locating and/or measuring the thickness of voids underneath a jointed reinforced concrete pavement (JRCP). All three methods were evaluated in June 1986 on a section of SR 80 in Union County. These void detection tests were conducted prior to the performance of concrete pavement restoration on the existing pavement. Analysis of the data reveals that the transverse joints were probably locked during testing. Thus, the validity of the deflection data obtained at this time appears to be in question. For 13 joints and cracks, grout takes were correlated with the area of the subsurface voids indicated in the Penetradar survey. No correlation was found to exist between void area and grout take. In 1986, Penetradar Inc. completed 146 lane miles of a short-pulse radar survey on SR 79 in Mercer and Crawford Counties. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation personnel cored 25 locations where the survey had indicated the presence of subsurface voids. Of these cores, 23 had voids of at least 0.125 in. (3.18 mm) in thickness. At cored void thicknesses equal to or less than 0.375 in. (9.53 mm), the void thickness indicated by the Penetradar survey was usually within 0.250 in. (6.35 mm) of the cored void thickness. For cored void thicknesses in excess of 0.375 in. (9.53 mm), the radar survey usually underestimated void thicknesses by at least two to one.

• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Construction and Materials, 1118 State Street, P.O. Box 2926
  Harrisburg, PA  United States  17105-2926

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Sheftick, D E
  • Bartoski, T A
• Publication Date: 1997-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 90 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Concrete pavements; Core samples; Deflection tests; Detection and identification; Detectors; Falling weight deflectometers; Grout; Pavement joints; Radar; Sealing (Technology); Soil stabilization; Thickness; Undersealing; Void ratios
• Uncontrolled Terms: Stabilization; Voids
• Old TRIS Terms: Core analysis
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00738031
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-PA-96-004+86-102, RP 86-102 Final Report
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1997 12:00AM