Experimental investigation on dynamic response of asphalt pavement using SmartRock sensor under vibrating compaction loading

Abstract Although compaction is one of the most critical steps during the construction of asphalt pavements, effective real-time technologies to detect the compactness of the asphalt mixture non-destructively are still rare. Currently, most methodologies in practice are experience-based, and few studies have provided insight into the particle interaction characteristics and quantitative response during the vibration compaction of asphalt pavements. Accordingly, both field and laboratory tests are conducted in this study to investigate the response of an asphalt mixture quantitatively under a vibrating compaction load at the meso-scale. First, a field test program is designed, and sensors (e.g., SmartRock and acceleration sensors) are used to measure the dynamic response of an asphalt pavement and the vibrating drum during vibrating compaction. The quantitative analysis reveals that the first three rolling impacts exert a significant and dominant compact effect on the asphalt mixture. Subsequently, a linear relationship between the acceleration of the vibrating drum and the vertical stress in the asphalt pavement is demonstrated. Furthermore, the SmartRock sensor is also employed in the laboratory test to detect the internal dynamic response under gyratory compaction, and the relationship between the compaction degree and the vertical stress in the asphalt mixture is established. Finally, three assessment methods for asphalt mixture compactness are proposed as characterization of the compactness by the acceleration of a vibrating drum, intermediate variables such as the stress of the mixture under a gyratory compaction, or acceleration and stress of the pavement. Comparison of the results illustrates that the dynamic response inside the mixture during the compaction can directly reflect the compaction degree of the asphalt mixture, and the compaction degree and the peak acceleration of the vibrating drum exhibit a strong linear correlation during the vibration rolling process.