Field Validation of Intelligent Compaction Monitoring Technology for Unbound Materials and HMA

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Researcher(s)

Principal investigator: David White, 515-294-1463, djwhite@iastate.edu (project list)

Co-principal investigators:

• Tom Cackler, 515-294-3230, tcackler@iastate.edu (project list)

Student researchers:

• Mark Thompson
• Pavana Vennapusa

Project status

Completed

Start date: 10/15/05
End date: 02/28/07

Publications

Reports:

• March 2007, Final Report: Field Validation of Intelligent Compaction Monitoring Technology for Unbound Materials and HMA 14 mb (*pdf)
• October 2011, TRB 2008 Paper: Variable feedback control intelligent compaction to evaluate subgrade and granular pavement layers: Field study at MN US 14 NA (*pdf)

Related publications:

• ASE 2010 Paper: Geostatistical analysis for spatially referenced roller-integrated compaction measurements (off site), November 2011
• TRB 2008 Paper: Implementing intelligent compaction specification on Minnesota TH 64: Synopsis of measurement values, data management and geostatistical analysis (off site), October 2011
• Tech Transfer Summary: Field Validation of Intelligent Compaction Monitoring Technology for Unbound Materials 2.2 mb *pdf (Tech transfer summary) June 2007

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Sponsor(s)/partner(s)

Sponsor(s):Federal Highway Administration
Minnesota Department of Transportation

About the research

Abstract:

The successful implementation of intelligent compaction technology into earthwork construction practice requires knowledge of the roller-integrated compaction measurements and their relationships with the engineering and index properties of soil that may be used for pavement design (e.g. California bearing ratio, elastic modulus, resilient modulus). These relationships were studied at three earthwork construction projects in Minnesota. In these field studies, intelligent compaction and in-situ test data were collected to demonstrate use of the various technologies, characterize the variation associated with each measurement system, and ultimately aid performance of regression analyses. For the pilot study at TH 64, a GIS database was created with roller data and parallel quality assurance data to demonstrate one method for managing large quantities of data. Spatial statistics were also determined using variogram modeling and discussed with regards to their potential for characterizing uniformity. A laboratory compaction study using different compaction methods (e.g. static, impact, gyratory, and vibratory) was conducted to show different moisture-density-compaction energy relationships for granular and cohesive soils. Resilient modulus test results showed that vibratory and impact compaction methods produce higher-modulus samples than static compaction. The findings from field studies of intelligent compaction systems provide the basis for developing QC/QA guidelines regarding effective and appropriate use of the technology. These recommendations, along with a brief summary of European specifications for continuous compaction control, are provided in the report.