Seismic Approach to Quality Management of HMA

MnROAD | NRRA | Structure & Teams | ICT Team

Contract: 1034287
Status: Complete
Project End Date: September 2, 2022

Summary

State is in need of assistance for the development of a multichannel, seismic geophysical data acquisition device and processing software for characterizing quality of newly paved Hot Mixed Asphalt (HMA) via surface wave velocity. Roughly 80% of State’s paving projects are constructed or rehabilitated using asphalt paving materials at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Current asphalt pavement designs rely primarily on performance based parameters (moduli) of pavement layers. However, current construction specifications for newly-constructed asphalt pavements rely primarily on index parameters (density, air void content, and layer thickness) which are commonly acquired as low frequency spot tests using destructive methods such as coring. Seismic methods have been used for several decades as a reliable, non-destructive means of characterizing mechanical behavior of pavement materials in both the field and lab. Advancements in processing capabilities and hardware make it probable to construct a device capable of accurately measuring high frequency surface wave energy in a rolling, air-coupled fashion such that seismic velocity and layer thickness can be reported for quality management purposes. The development of such a device has the potential to become an effective and efficient means of linking performance based design with construction quality management.

The goal of this contract is to develop a seismic data acquisition system and associated software package capable of acquiring surface wave data in a non-destructive, non-contact, rolling and multichannel fashion for the purpose of swiftly and reliably determining and visualizing seismic velocity of newly-constructed asphalt pavement layers for quality management purposes. Processed surface and three-dimensional, lane-wide models of seismic velocity will be geo-referenced and mapped.

Project Tasks

Scope of Work (PDF)

Task 1: Project Management and Administration

Coordinate and conduct a kick-off meeting with the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP). Provide quarterly progress reports to the TAP covering status of development and testing of hardware and software. Present project goal, design concept, and progress to TAP and National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) at NRRA Meetings in spring 2020 and fall 2021.

Deliverables: One kick-off meeting and minutes. Seven quarterly progress reports. Oral presentation at two NRRA meetings.

Task 2: Hardware Development (Seismic Data Acquisition System) & Testing

Develop robust, portable, non-destructive, non-contact (air-coupled), rolling, multichannel, seismic geophysical data acquisition system for swiftly acquiring, processing, and characterizing newly-constructed asphalt pavement surface wave velocity measurements from geospatial 2D and 3D profiles. The data acquisition system will include minimum of the following components and capabilities:

One multichannel digital recording device.
Onboard control center for control of system.
Optimum number of air-coupled receivers and source(s) for developing statistically valid 3D surveys within a minimum 6-foot measurement width.
Wired or wireless means of transmission of digital data to onboard software.
Export of data to removable device or cloud storage.
Develop triggering system which synchronizes with a Geographic Positioning System (GPS)/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for geo-referencing of collected seismic data.

Test hardware (including, joint testing with software) to ensure that final data acquisition system and software collectively produce accurate and reliable surface wave velocity models. Report results per Task 1.2.

Deliverables: Submit to the State one seismic data acquisition system meeting a minimum of the above requirements. Minimum of three hardware tests and minimum of two joint hardware and software tests.

Task 3: Software Development & Testing

Develop software package capable of acquiring, processing, and analyzing seismic data measured from seismic data acquisition system. The software package will include a minimum of the following capabilities:

Capable of outputting surface and 3D models of seismic velocity (minimum 6 feet wide) which are geo-referenced.
Module for controlling recording parameters and data storage.
Automated Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC) module for real-time signal-to-noise evaluation and faulty trigger detection.
Near-real-time and automated analysis module which performs filtering, constructs, and analyzes dispersion images, evaluates and displays layer thickness and shear wave velocity.
Analysis module for manually performing post-acquisition signal enhancements, Lamb wave dispersion and calibrations for Poisson’s ratio and temperature, advanced inversion, and construction/display/management of 3D grid data sets of shear wave velocity, Young’s and shear modulus.
User’s manual which explains how to use the various components and modules of the software package.
Allows the operator to define the data lot, preferably using the standardized naming convention outlined in American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) PP-080 and PP-081.
Exported data preferably meets the requirements of AASHTO MP39 “File Format of Intelligent Construction Data” and is preferably in a format compatible with Veta.

Test software (including, joint testing with hardware) to ensure that final data acquisition system and software collectively produce accurate and reliable surface wave velocity models. Report results per Task 1.2.

Deliverables: Submit to the State one software package and user manual meeting a minimum of the above requirements. Minimum of two software tests and minimum of two joint hardware and software tests.

Task 4: Delivery and Demonstration of Seismic Data Acquisition System and Software

Deliver and demonstrate final seismic data acquisition system and software. Demonstrate system setup, data acquisition, and analysis process as well as post-acquisition analyses. Present seismic velocity models produced from data acquired during the demonstration. Travel to Minnesota (MN) to conduct demonstration of final seismic data acquisition system and software for TAP on newly constructed asphalt pavement.

Deliverables: One delivery and demonstration of final seismic data acquisition system and software.

Task 5: Final Report

Prepare a final report which includes quarterly reports and summarizes and explains (but is not limited to) purpose and scope of project, surface wave geophysical theory/method, hardware and software development and quality control measures, conclusions, and recommendations.

Deliverables: Final report

Project team

Principal Investigator: Choon Park, Park Seismic, LLC
Co-Investigator: Nils Ryden, Norrfee Tech, Sweden
Technical Liaison: Jason Richter, MnDOT
Project Technical Advisory Panel (TAP):

Jason Richter, MnDOT - TL
Tim Andersen, MnDOT
Brandon Brever, MN Asphalt Paving Association
George Chang, The Transtec Group
Bryan Downing, Caterpillar
Ervin Dukatz, Flyereld Consulting
Rebecca Embacher, MnDOT
Brian Hill, Illinois DOT
Micah Holzbaueur, MnDOT
Greg Johnson, MnDOT
Tim Kowalski, Wirtgen Group America
Craig Landefeld, Ohio DOT
Soheil Nazarian, University of Texas-El Paso
Nick Oetken, Caterpillar
Dan Oesch, MoDOT
John Siekmeier, MnDOT
Raguparan Thangavelautham, Caltrans
Tomas Winnerholt, Swedish Transport Administration
Eyoab Zegeye Teshale, MnDOT

Related Materials

2020 Pavement Workshop Project Update recording