Assessment of In Situ Compactness and Air Void Content of New Asphalt Layers Using Ground-Penetrating Radar Measurements

This paper deals with the possibilities of ground-penetrating radar (GPR)-based quality control testing, which was demonstrated on an experimental road section of a ~220–240 m long Hungarian residential street. The measurements and their assessment aimed to control the prescribed compactness and air...

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Main Authors: Péter Primusz, Enas Abdelsamei, Ahmed M. Ali, György Sipos, István Fi, András Herceg, Csaba Tóth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/614
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author Péter Primusz
Enas Abdelsamei
Ahmed M. Ali
György Sipos
István Fi
András Herceg
Csaba Tóth
author_facet Péter Primusz
Enas Abdelsamei
Ahmed M. Ali
György Sipos
István Fi
András Herceg
Csaba Tóth
author_sort Péter Primusz
collection DOAJ
description This paper deals with the possibilities of ground-penetrating radar (GPR)-based quality control testing, which was demonstrated on an experimental road section of a ~220–240 m long Hungarian residential street. The measurements and their assessment aimed to control the prescribed compactness and air void content of newly built asphalt layers. Research has discussed the relationship between the air void content and the dielectric constant of asphalt layers, and provided empirical results for this relationship. We suggest a new logistic model with lower and upper asymptotes instead of the exponential formula often used in the literature. Contrary to this newly developed robust model, existing models are sensitive to extreme dielectric constant values due to the mathematical nature of their exponential function. The results of the new logistic model are compared to those of the Hoegh–Dai (HD) and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) models on the basis of a few calibration data points. Through systematic data collection and analysis, the developed robust empirical model demonstrates a significant correlation between the relative permittivity and air void content in asphalt mixes, enabling accurate estimation of the air void content within a ±0.5% margin of error. The air void content can be applied to estimate the asphalt layer modulus. The developed model can be further exploited by utilizing a combination of GPR and drone technology. The “symbiosis” of these technologies can lead to a totally non-destructive imaging system, which can then be applied to environmental monitoring of roads and their surroundings in terms of quality control of asphalt compaction work and the hot asphalt mix behind the compaction roller during pavement construction.
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spelling doaj.art-b6bc0ca8659a4c9f92295f2fb5ea25972024-01-29T13:43:08ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-01-0114261410.3390/app14020614Assessment of In Situ Compactness and Air Void Content of New Asphalt Layers Using Ground-Penetrating Radar MeasurementsPéter Primusz0Enas Abdelsamei1Ahmed M. Ali2György Sipos3István Fi4András Herceg5Csaba Tóth6Institute of Geomatics and Civil Engineering, University of Sopron, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street 4, H-9400 Sopron, HungaryDepartment of Geoinformatics, Physical and Environmental Geography, University of Szeged, Egyetem U. 2-6, H-6722 Szeged, HungaryDepartment of Geoinformatics, Physical and Environmental Geography, University of Szeged, Egyetem U. 2-6, H-6722 Szeged, HungaryDepartment of Geoinformatics, Physical and Environmental Geography, University of Szeged, Egyetem U. 2-6, H-6722 Szeged, HungaryDepartment of Highway and Railway Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem Rakpart 3, H-1111 Budapest, HungaryInstitute of Geomatics and Civil Engineering, University of Sopron, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street 4, H-9400 Sopron, HungaryDepartment of Highway and Railway Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem Rakpart 3, H-1111 Budapest, HungaryThis paper deals with the possibilities of ground-penetrating radar (GPR)-based quality control testing, which was demonstrated on an experimental road section of a ~220–240 m long Hungarian residential street. The measurements and their assessment aimed to control the prescribed compactness and air void content of newly built asphalt layers. Research has discussed the relationship between the air void content and the dielectric constant of asphalt layers, and provided empirical results for this relationship. We suggest a new logistic model with lower and upper asymptotes instead of the exponential formula often used in the literature. Contrary to this newly developed robust model, existing models are sensitive to extreme dielectric constant values due to the mathematical nature of their exponential function. The results of the new logistic model are compared to those of the Hoegh–Dai (HD) and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) models on the basis of a few calibration data points. Through systematic data collection and analysis, the developed robust empirical model demonstrates a significant correlation between the relative permittivity and air void content in asphalt mixes, enabling accurate estimation of the air void content within a ±0.5% margin of error. The air void content can be applied to estimate the asphalt layer modulus. The developed model can be further exploited by utilizing a combination of GPR and drone technology. The “symbiosis” of these technologies can lead to a totally non-destructive imaging system, which can then be applied to environmental monitoring of roads and their surroundings in terms of quality control of asphalt compaction work and the hot asphalt mix behind the compaction roller during pavement construction.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/614GPRcompactnessair void contentpavement
spellingShingle Péter Primusz
Enas Abdelsamei
Ahmed M. Ali
György Sipos
István Fi
András Herceg
Csaba Tóth
Assessment of In Situ Compactness and Air Void Content of New Asphalt Layers Using Ground-Penetrating Radar Measurements
Applied Sciences
GPR
compactness
air void content
pavement
title Assessment of In Situ Compactness and Air Void Content of New Asphalt Layers Using Ground-Penetrating Radar Measurements
title_full Assessment of In Situ Compactness and Air Void Content of New Asphalt Layers Using Ground-Penetrating Radar Measurements
title_fullStr Assessment of In Situ Compactness and Air Void Content of New Asphalt Layers Using Ground-Penetrating Radar Measurements
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of In Situ Compactness and Air Void Content of New Asphalt Layers Using Ground-Penetrating Radar Measurements
title_short Assessment of In Situ Compactness and Air Void Content of New Asphalt Layers Using Ground-Penetrating Radar Measurements
title_sort assessment of in situ compactness and air void content of new asphalt layers using ground penetrating radar measurements
topic GPR
compactness
air void content
pavement
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/614
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