Suitability of Intelligent Compaction for Asphalt Pavement Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Abstract

Intelligent compaction (IC) is an emerging technology that can be applied to improve the compaction of hot mix asphalt (HMA). This study investigated the applicability of IC technology for the quality control (QC) and/or quality assurance (QA) of HMA compaction through a survey, phone interviews, and a review of IC demonstrations conducted in Indiana. The questionnaire survey gathered information about (1) the field usage of IC technology by state DOTs, (2) the benefits of IC technology, and (3) future plans for IC implementation. Only two state DOTs have adopted IC technology for QC, whereas the other 24 respondents have not applied IC technology for either QC or QA. A review of IC demonstrations conducted on US 52 in Indiana was undertaken to explore the possibility of substituting the nonnuclear density value with the ICMV. Multiple regression analysis of the data (predicted variable: nonnuclear density) indicated a R2 value of .67 with statistically significant p-values for the independent variables [i.e., pass count, temperature, and intelligent compaction measurement values (ICMV)]. The results of this research indicate that IC technology would improve both the compaction coverage and the uniform compaction for HMA QC applications, although no solid evidence is available to date to support the possibility of substituting core density values with ICMVs for QA.