Quality Management of Flexible Pavement Layers with Seismic Methods: Test Methods

The focus of Project 1735 has been on nondestructively measuring moduli with four inter-related seismic devices. Two of these are laboratory devices: the free-free resonant column device for testing base and subgrade and the ultrasonic device for testing hot mix asphalt (HMA) cores and molded specimens. The other two are field devices: the Portable Seismic Pavement Analyzer (PSPA) for testing HMA layers and a version of it that works on the base and prepared subgrade layers (affectionately called DSPA for Dirt Seismic Pavement Analyzer). Procedures have been developed to measure the moduli of each pavement layer shortly after placement. These procedures allow rapid data collection and interpretation. Thus, any problem during construction process can be identified and adjusted. The proposed equipment and methodologies may strike a balance between the existing level of sophistication in the design methodology, laboratory testing and field testing. Performing the simplified laboratory and field tests along with more traditional tests may result in a database that can be used to smoothly unify the design procedures and construction quality management. The major advantage of seismic methods is that similar results are anticipated from the field and laboratory tests as long as the material is tested under comparable conditions. This unique feature of seismic methods in material characterization is of particular significance, if one is interested in implementing performance-based specifications. Another advantage of the protocol is that seismic methods can characterize material properties with depth and delineate between different materials or change in the material. The overall protocol to be implemented is described in this document followed by step by step procedures on how to implement them in actual projects. Readers are encouraged to review Research Report 1735-3 before reviewing this report. Even though that report is summarized in this report, a number of operational issues are not included for the sake of brevity.

• Record URL:
  ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/rti/psr/0-1735-s.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, El Paso

  Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems
  500 W University Avenue
  El Paso, TX  United States  79968-0516

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office, P.O. Box 5080
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5080

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 2006-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 34p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Base course (Pavements); Field tests; Laboratory tests; Modulus of resilience; Nondestructive tests; Quality control; Road construction; Subgrade (Pavements); Test procedures; Testing equipment; Ultrasonic tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Resonant column testing; Seismic pavement analyzers
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01047573
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Product 5-1735-01-P5
• Contract Numbers: Project 5-1735-01
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 2 2007 8:37AM