High Speed Pavement Analyzer

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General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(136)
Former Study Number:
Lead Organization: Iowa Department of Transportation
Contract Start Date: Nov 01, 2006
Solicitation Number: 1110
Partners: FHWA, IADOT
Status: Closed
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number:
Last Updated: Jun 12, 2009
Contract End Date: Mar 31, 2008
Financial Summary
Contract Amount: $5,000.00
Suggested Contribution:
Total Commitments Received: $80,000.00
100% SP&R Approval: Approved
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Mark Dunn
mark.dunn@iowadot.us
Phone: 515-239-1447
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name
Federal Highway Administration 2007 $75,000.00 Thomas Van Thomas Van
Iowa Department of Transportation 2007 $5,000.00 Chris Brakke Carol Culver

Study Description

Analysis of pavement distress and structural condition is a key component of all pavement management systems and provides a method to schedule rehabilitation and maintenance activities to minimize life-cycle costs for these facilities. In the analysis of existing PCC or composite pavements, the properties normally associated with structural condition include load transfer, cracking, and faulting. The current state-of-the-practice consists of obtaining cracking information by visual observation or using electronic image recognition methods. Visual observation is the most common method but it requires significant training to ensure consistency and accuracy and often subjects observers to traffic hazards. Electronic image recognition is a relatively new technology but has significant limitations. Measuring load transfer across joints is normally done using a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) by loading one side of joint and reading deflection measurements from one or more sensors on each side. The method works but it is slow, requires lane closures, and exposes the FWD operators to traffic hazards. Faulting is usually measured using manual devices operated within the traffic lane ¿ again, exposing those making the measurements to traffic hazards. In all cases, these state-of-the-practice methods require lane closures and may create traffic delays. At the network level, it is difficult to secure enough data about structural condition to be statistically significant. Pavement conditions change frequently due to irregularities in geology, materials used, and construction techniques. As a result, management systems frequently conduct analyses with insufficient structural information or without consideration of the structural conditions of the existing pavements.

Objectives

The long-term goal of this effort is to develop a device that will measure, at highway speeds, pavement structural condition which is known to impact the performance of PCC and composite pavements. Such a system needs to be able to process the collected measurements into an immediately usable form in near real-time. It is believed that the recent improvements in computers, laser measuring devices, and similar technologies will make the development of such a system possible. The goal of the work specifically described herein is to, in fact, determine if the required technologies exist and to what extent a market exists for such a device.

Scope of Work

The proposed research project will investigate the feasibility and practicality of developing a device for measuring the structural condition of PCC and composite pavements. There are two tasks in this project, Technical Feasibility Study and Utilization Study.

Comments

$5,000 per state requested

Documents Attached
Title File/Link Document Category Document Type Privacy Document Date Download
Final Report-May 2008 high_speed_pvmt_analyzer TPF 5(136).pdf Deliverable Final Report Public 2012-11-15
Quarterly Report - June 2008 qtr_report_200806.pdf Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2008-11-19
Documents Attached
Title File/Link Document Category Document Type Privacy Document Date Download
High Speed Pavement Analyzer 1110.pdf TPF Study Documentation Solicitation Public 2011-09-25

High Speed Pavement Analyzer

General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(136)
Lead Organization: Iowa Department of Transportation
Contract Start Date: Nov 01, 2006
Solicitation Number: 1110
Partners: FHWA, IADOT
Status: Closed
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number:
Last Updated: Jun 12, 2009
Contract End Date: Mar 31, 2008
Financial Summary
Contract Amount: $5,000.00
Total Commitments Received: $80,000.00
100% SP&R Approval:
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Mark Dunn
mark.dunn@iowadot.us
Phone: 515-239-1447
Commitments by Organizations
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address
Federal Highway Administration 2007 $75,000.00 Thomas Van Thomas Van 202-366-1341 thomas.van@dot.gov
Iowa Department of Transportation 2007 $5,000.00 Chris Brakke Carol Culver 515-239-1208 carol.culver@iowadot.us

Study Description

Study Description

Analysis of pavement distress and structural condition is a key component of all pavement management systems and provides a method to schedule rehabilitation and maintenance activities to minimize life-cycle costs for these facilities. In the analysis of existing PCC or composite pavements, the properties normally associated with structural condition include load transfer, cracking, and faulting. The current state-of-the-practice consists of obtaining cracking information by visual observation or using electronic image recognition methods. Visual observation is the most common method but it requires significant training to ensure consistency and accuracy and often subjects observers to traffic hazards. Electronic image recognition is a relatively new technology but has significant limitations. Measuring load transfer across joints is normally done using a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) by loading one side of joint and reading deflection measurements from one or more sensors on each side. The method works but it is slow, requires lane closures, and exposes the FWD operators to traffic hazards. Faulting is usually measured using manual devices operated within the traffic lane ¿ again, exposing those making the measurements to traffic hazards. In all cases, these state-of-the-practice methods require lane closures and may create traffic delays. At the network level, it is difficult to secure enough data about structural condition to be statistically significant. Pavement conditions change frequently due to irregularities in geology, materials used, and construction techniques. As a result, management systems frequently conduct analyses with insufficient structural information or without consideration of the structural conditions of the existing pavements.

Objectives

The long-term goal of this effort is to develop a device that will measure, at highway speeds, pavement structural condition which is known to impact the performance of PCC and composite pavements. Such a system needs to be able to process the collected measurements into an immediately usable form in near real-time. It is believed that the recent improvements in computers, laser measuring devices, and similar technologies will make the development of such a system possible. The goal of the work specifically described herein is to, in fact, determine if the required technologies exist and to what extent a market exists for such a device.

Scope of Work

The proposed research project will investigate the feasibility and practicality of developing a device for measuring the structural condition of PCC and composite pavements. There are two tasks in this project, Technical Feasibility Study and Utilization Study.

Comments

$5,000 per state requested

Title File/Link Type Private
Final Report-May 2008 high_speed_pvmt_analyzer TPF 5(136).pdf Deliverable Public
Quarterly Report - June 2008 qtr_report_200806.pdf Progress Report Public
Title File/Link Type Private
High Speed Pavement Analyzer 1110.pdf TPF Study Documentation Public

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