Comprehensive Evaluation of Compaction of Asphalt Pavements and Development of Compaction Monitoring System (0-6992-2)

This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of compaction of asphalt pavements and develop software for monitoring field compaction in real time. In the first phase of this study, the researchers built several test sections that were constructed using different asphalt mixtures and various compaction methods. The results of these experiments were used to determine the effects of compaction temperature, compaction method, mixture design, and base type on the compactability of asphalt mixtures. The researchers found that the efficiency of the compactive effort across the steel rollers was non-uniform. A point on the mat closer to the center of the roller was subjected to more compaction than a point closer to the edge of the roller. The compaction temperature was found to have a great effect on compaction irrespective of mixture type. The researchers presented a method for predicting the density of asphalt pavements in real time. This method utilizes the location of the roller on the mat and the compaction curves for each roller to predict the density. The predicted density was close to the measured one. In the second phase of this study, the researchers developed a system for monitoring and documenting the compaction process of asphalt mixtures. This system is called the compaction monitoring system (CMS). The CMS uses the latest global positioning system technologies and various sensors to provide full coverage of the newly constructed mat. The CMS shows maps of coverage, compaction index, and temperature of the first roller pass in real time. The CMS was found to be simple and easy to install and use. The CMS was able to show some inconsistencies in the compaction process, for example, unequal converge across the mat, non-uniform temperature, and significant delay in compaction after placement of the mixtures. The CMS documents the compaction process for the whole project, and the data are saved on the computer. The data can be opened using the same software for reviewing the whole compaction process.